MANUAL 

ARMY  HORSIBHOEI^ 
1917 


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Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
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MANUAL  FOR 
ARMY  HORSESHOERS 

V 

1917 


PREPARED  FOR  THE  USE  OF  STUDENTS  OF 

THE  MOUNTED  SERVICE  SCHOOL 

FORT  RILEY,  KANS. 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1917 


DvV 


S(o  I 


1^ 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
Document  No.  683. 

OFFICE   OF  THE  ADJUTANT  GENERAL. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  October  26,  1917. 
The  Manual  for  Army  Horseshoers,  1917,  prepared  at  the  Mounted 
Service  School,  Fort  Riley,  Kans.,  for  the  use  of  students  of  the 
Department  of  Hippology,  as  well  as  for  the  Army  at  large  and  the 
National  Guard,  is  published  for  the  information  and  guidance  of 
all  concerned. 

[461.1,  A.  G.  O.] 
By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War: 

TASKER  II.  BLISS, 
General,  Chief  of  Staff. 
Official: 

H.  P.  McCAIN, 

The  Adjutant  General. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 
Interior  of  the  shoeing  shop,  Mounted  Service  School .     Frontispiece. 

Plate  I.— Tools 11 

II. — Anvil  and  tool  boxes 13 

III. — Section  of  forge 14 

IV. — Sagittal  section  of  digit  and  distal  part  of  meta- 
carpus of  horse 33 

V. — Skeleton  of  digit  and  distal  part  of  metacarpus  of 

horse ;  lateral  view 36 

y I. — Third  phalanx  of  horse ;  lateral  view 37 

VII. — Lateral  view  of  foot  of  horse  after  removal  of  hoof 

and  part  of  skin 38 

VIII. — Ground  surface  of  foot  of  horse  after  removal  of 

half  of  hoof  to  show  corium 39 

IX. — Digit  of  horse,  showing  surface  relations  of  bones 

and  joints.    The  cartilage  is  largely  exposed.  . .  40 

X. — Right  fore  hoof  of  horse;  gi'ound  surface 43 

XI.— Foot  of  the  horse.. 34 

XII. —  fRaising  the  foot.     Three  positions  for  foot  (third 

XIII. — \    raised  for  clinching) 46,  47 

XIV. — The  foot  axis  and  the  pastern  axis 49 

XV.— Level  of  the  foot 54 

XVI. — Preparation  of  the  foot 56 

XVII. — Normal  shoes ■. . .  58 

XVIII. — Foot  improperly  shod  and  neglected 68 

XIX, — Special  shoes  for  correction  of  faults  in  gaits 73 

XX. — Weighted  shoes '  76 

Pathological  shoes 76 

XXI. — Extension  toe 77 

XXII. — Quarter  crack  (before   and  after  treatment  and 

shoeing) 87 

XXIII. — Raising  front  foot  of  refractory  horse ;  also  hind  foot, 

first  method .' 106 

XXIV.— Horse  in  stocks 108 

XXV. — Harness  for  throwing  horse 109 

XXVI. — Throwing  the  horse  for  shoeing ^ 110 

5 


CONTENTS. 


Paragraphs. 
Chapter  I. — Horseshoers"  tools  and  their  uses — The  forge. . .       1-4 

II.— The  fire— Heats 5-7 

III. — Working  and  shaping  iron — The  plate  shoe 8-25 

IV. — Anatomy  and  physiology  of  the  horse's  foot 26-34 

v.— Normal  shoeing 35-57 

VI. — Gaits — Shoeing  to  confirm  or  alter  same — Faults 
in  gaits — Shoeing  to  correct  same — The  mak- 
ing of  special  shoes  for  gaits 58-75 

VII. — Diseases — The  making  of  pathological  shoes. . .  76-106 

VIII. — Shoeing  refractory  horses 107-114 

7 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
HORSESHOERS'  TOOLS  AND  THEIR  USES— THE  FORGE. 

(Plate  I.) 

1.  The  clinch  cutter  (fig.  1)  consist?  of  two  parts — the  blade  and 
the  point.  The  blade  is  used  to  cut  or  to  raise  the  clinches,  being 
placed  under  the  edge  of  the  clinch  and  struck  with  the  driving 
hammer.  The  point  is  used  to  punch  nails  and  stubs  out  of  the 
hoof.  It  is  often  placed  in  the  crease  of  the  shoe,  under  the  head 
of  the  nail  to  be  withdrawn,  and  struck  smartly  with  the  hammer. 
The  blow  raises  the  nail  sufficiently  to  enable  the  pinchers  to  grasp 
the  nail  head. 

The  pinchers  (fig.  2)  are  used  to  remove  shoes  and  to  draw  nail 
stubs  and  improperly  driven  nails. 

The  driving  hammer  (shoeing  hammer)  (fig.  9)  should  be  used  only 
to  drive  horseshoe  nails,  to  wring  off  nails  after  they  have  been 
properly  driven,  and  to  make  clinches. 

The  nippers  (fig.  4)  are  used  to  remove  the  surplus  growth  of  wall. 

The  shoeing  knife  (fig.  3)  is  used  to  pare  away  the  dead  horn  near 
the  white  line;  to  make  a  seat  for  clips;  to  remove  loose  particles 
from  the  hoof;  to  relieve  pressure  on  corns  and  cracks;  and  to  open 
the  sole  and  wall  for  the  escape  of  pus  or  for  the  removal  of  foreign 
bodies. 


10  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

The  horseshoers'  rasp  (fig.  5)  is  used  to  prepare  a  level-bearing 
surface  of  the  foot;  to  remove  extra  length  of  toe;  to  smooth  the 
edges  of  the  wall;  to  even  clinches;  to  make  a  slight  groove  under 
eacli  clinch;  and  to  run  lightly  over  the  clinches  in  order  to  smooth 
them.  The  rasp  that  is  used  on  the  hoof  should  never  be  used  at 
the  bench;  use  an  old  rasp  for  working  on  metal. 

The  rounding  hammer  (fig.  10)  2iA\d  fitting  hammer  (fig.  11)  are  used 
in  fitting  and  in  turning  shoes. 

The  hoof  tester  (fig.  7)  is  used  to  locate  injuries  or  soreness  of  the 
sole.  Place  one  point  on  the  sole  and  the  other  on  the  wall;  press 
by  closing  the  handles;  shift  the  points  and  continue  until  the 
horse  flinches.  The  pinchers  may  be  used  for  the  same  purpose, 
but  are  not  as  satisfactory. 

The  clinching  tongs  (fig.  6)  are  used  to  bend  the  clinches  downward. 

The  clinching  block  (fig.  15)  is  used  in  turning  the  clinches. 

The  tongs  (fig.  8)  are  used  in  handling  hot  metals. 

The  pritchel  (fig.  16)  is  made  by  hand  from  round  or  octagonal 
steel,  and  is  used  for  opening  the  nail  holes  in  horseshoes.  The 
point  is  drawn  the  same  size  and  shape  as  the  shank  of  a  nail  half- 
way between  head  and  point,  so  that  the  hole  punched  in  the  shoe 
will  fit  the  nail  snugly  and  not  allow  any  motion.  Examine  the 
nail  carefully  and  learn  the  exact  size  for  the  pritchel.  To  draw 
out  the  point  of  the  pritchel,  heat  it  to  a  cherry  red  and,  placing 
the  pointed  end  flat  on  the  face  of  the  anvil  near  the  far  edge,  strike 
with  the  hammer  held  at  an  angle  to  properly  change  the  upper 
face,  turning  it  as  necessary  so  that  the  finished  point  will  be  of 
the  shape  desired.  Never  heat  the  pritchel  beyond  a  cherry  red; 
cool  it  gradually  by  placing  it  in  the  coal  at  the  edge  of  the  forge 
and  never  in  the  water.  The  face  of  the  horseshoers'  anvil  should 
have  a  round  edge  near  the  base  of  the  horn  on  the  far  side.  This 
edge  is  used  for  sharpening  tools. 

Hardies,  the  straight  (fig.  12)  and  the  half-round  (fig.  13),  are 
used  to  cut  hot  metals.  Their  principal  use  for  horseshoers  is  in 
cutting  off  the  heels  of  shoes,  and  for  this  purpose  a  sharp  cut- 
ting edge  is  required.  When  the  hardy  becomes  dull  the  edge  is 
drawn  out  on  the  face  of  the  anvil  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
pritchel.  A  sharp  edge  is  then  put  on  by  hot  rasping,  using  the 
smooth  side  of  the  rasp.  After  sparpening.  the  cutting  edge  should 
be  tempered  as  follows:  Heat  the  blade  of  the  hardy  slowly  to  a 
cherry  red;  hold  the  cutting  edge  under  water  so  that  about  one- 
half  inch  of  the  blade  is  irnmersed,  and,  when  there  is  no  longer 


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Plate  I.— Tools. 


12  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

any  sizzling,  plunge  the  whole  hardy  under  water  and  remove  it 
at  once;  rub  the  blade  on  the  floor  to  remove  loose  flakes  of  metal 
and  to  give  it  a  slight  polish;  now  carefully  observe  the  change 
in  color  as  the  remaining  heat  in  the  body  extens  badck  to  the 
edge;  the  color  will  be  first  straw,  then  copper,  and  finally  blue; 
as  "soon  as  the  blue  color  has  reached  the  cutting  edge,  place  the 
whole  hardy  under  water  and  leave  it  there  until  thoroughly  cooled. 

The  creaser  (fig.  14)  is  used  to  crease  the  shoes  and  to  repair 
damaged  creases. 

The  countersink  (fig.  17)  is  used  in  hand-made  shoes  to  punch 
holes  of  sufficient  size  to  receive  the  heads  of  the  nails;  these  holes 
are  completed  by  the  use  of  the  pritchel  (fig.  16). 

Horseshoe  nails  retain  the  shoe  on  the  foot.  These  nails  (fur- 
nished in  several  sizes)  are  machine-made  and  pointed;  they  are 
slightly  concave  on  one  side  and  flat  on  the  other;  there  is  a  short 
bevel  at  the  point  on  the  concave  side.  In  driving  the  nail  into 
the  hoof  the  flat  side  is  held  faced  outward. 

2.  The  anvil. — The  working  parts  of  the  anvil  (PL  II,  fig.  1)  are 
the  horn,  the  face,  and  the  heel. 

The  face,  or  the  upper  plane  surface,  is  of  steel,  and  is  welded 
to  the  iron  body.  The  anvil  is  firmly  fastened  to  a  wooden  block, 
whi  h  is  sunk  into  the  ground  to  a  depth  that  will  bring  the  surface 
of  the  face  at  a  convenient  working  height  above  the  ground — from 
30  1 3  38  inches. 

The  horn  is  used  to  open  and  to  shape  shoes;  the  face  to  level 
the  wab  and  for  welding;  and  the  heel  to  straighten  heels  of  shoes  and 
to  turn  calks.  Clips  are  ordinarily  drawn  on  the  edge  of  the  face,  but 
in  the  anvil  shown  there  is  an  attacliment  near  the  base  of  the  horn 
whi  jh  is  used  for  this  purpose.  The  square  hole  in  the  face  (hardj. 
hole)  is  a  socket  for  hardies;  the  round  hole  (pritchel  hole)  permits 
the  passage  of  the  pritchel  through  the  nail  hole  of  the  shoe. 

The  flat  surface  at  the  base  of  the  horn  is  relatively  soft  iron  and  is 
used  to  rest  hot  metals  on  when  cutting  them  with  a  chisel. 

The  anvil  weighs  from  125  to  150  pounds. 

Figure  2  shows  the  tool  box  issued  by  the  Quartermaster  Corps. 
Its  use  is  readily  understood,  and  the  only  instruction  required  is 
that  all  tools  should  be  placed  in  the  box,  handles  out.  An  objec- 
tion to  this  box  is  that  it  is  easily  tipped  over.  On  this  account 
many  shoers  prefer  the  pattern  shown  in  figure  3,  although  the  tools 
are  not  as  near  to  the  hand. 

3.  Plate  III  shows  a  section  of  a  portable  forge.  In  every  forge 
air  is  forced  through  the  fire  by  a  bellows  or  a  fan  (F);  the  latter  is 


MANUAL  FOR  AHMY  HORSESHOERS. 


13 


made  to  revolve  by  a  drive  wheel  or  by  a  handle  (H).  The  twyer 
ball  (T)  corresponds  to  the  2:rate  of  a  stove.  Firmly  attached  to  it 
and  extending  toward  the  worker  is  an  iron  rod  })y  which  the  ball 


Plate  II.— Anvil  and  Tool  Boxes. 

may  be  rocked.  The  end  of  this  rod  is  shown  by  the  small  circle  in 
the  center  of  the  twyer  ball.  A  crater  (C)  shonld  be  made  around 
the  tu-yer  ball  in  order  to  confine  the  fire.  Clay  may  be  used  for 
this  purpose,  but  cement  is  better. 


Plate  III.— Section  of  Forge. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  15 

4,  The  field  outfit  issued  by  the  Ordnance  Department  is  designed 
especially  for  portability,  and  is  packed  in  two  chests.  Chest  No.  1 
(22  l)y  18  by  13  inches)  contains  a  small  knock-down  forge  with  fan 
and  drivewheel  and  a  complete  set  of  forge  and  shoeing  tools. 
Weight  of  chest,  packed,  122  pounds. 


The  Schaller  forge  and  equipment. 

Chest  No.  2  (21  by  17  by  10  inches)  contains  a  small  anvil  and 
block,  water  bucket,  leather  shoeing  box,  and  apron.  Weight  of 
chest,  packed,  68  pounds. 

The  field  anvil  weighs  17  pounds. 

The  Schaller  forge  and  equipment  is  lighter  and  more  compact 
than  the  old  field  outfit  and  is  gradually  replacing  it. 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  FIRE— HEATS. 

THE    FIRE. 

5.  Coal,  charcoal,  coke,  or  even  wood,  may  be  used  as  fuel  tc 
create  the  necessary  heat  in  the  forge 

Before  building  the  fire  the  crater  of  the  forge  must  be  thor- 
oughly  cleaned  remo^g  all  dirt,  ashes,  and  imconsumed  fuel 
Ihe  twyer  ball  should  be  rocked  vigorously,  and  the  slide  (S) 
T?o  K  ii  -^  u""  ^^^^?  "^^^  ^'^  ^^  remo^-ing  the  accumulated  dust 
Uie  ball  is  often  so  heated  as  to  fuse,  and  melted  metal  and  clink- 
of'thp'^^i^f  *^?  opeiiings  around  the  ball,  preventing  the  passage 
ot  the  blast.  The  obstructions  must  be  removed  bv  the  use  of 
tne  poker. 

.  Coal  is  banked  around  the  twyer  ball  in  the  form  of  a  crater 
.It.?  ""^a  ?^.^'V^^  d^T  particles  of  any  inflammable  material 
are  placed  and  ignited,  men  these  particles  are  burning  coke 
or  wet  coal  (if  no  coke  is  available)  is  gradually  placed  on  the  fire 
and  the  fan  is  revolved  slowly,  care  being  taken  not  to  cover  so 
closely  that  the  flames  are  smothered. 

+T.?l'r  the  fire  is  burning  brightly,  it  should  be  built  up  around 
the  edges  with  wet  coal,  which  will  in  time  become  coke.  (See 
Meats.)  Ihis  coke  is  next  burned  and  is  replaced  bv  wet  coal 
thus  keeping  up  the  supply  of  coke.  Green  coal  is  of  little  use  in 
iieating  iron  or  steel  for  the  reason  that  it  does  not  give  a  hi^^h 
degree  of  heat,  that  it  sticks  to  the  metal,  and  that  it  emits  a  smoke 
which  interferes  with  the  work. 

A  clear  fire  without  smoke  is  essential  for  good  work,  and  the 
higher  degrees  of  heat  can  only  be  obtained  from  such  a  fire 

ihe  depth  of  the  fire  should  be  about  9  inches;  the  metal  is  then 
twve"  b^^ll  ^         ""^  greatest  heat,  about  6  inches  above  the 


IG 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  17 

If  the  metal  is  too  near  the  twyer  ball  the  heat  is  affected  by 
the  cold  blast. 

To  bank  a  fire,  cover  thoroughly  with  the  fuel  and  open  the  slide 
below;  this  will  keep  the  fire  alive  for  several  hours.  Wlienever 
the  fire  is  left  for  more  than  a  few  minutes  the  slide  should  be  left 
open. 

CLINKERS. 

6.  Heated  steel  or  iron  gives  off  particles  or  scales  which  remain 
in  the  fire.  These  melting  pirticles  bind  together  particles  of 
bui-ned  coal,  gradually  becoming  larger  and  finally  forming  what 
is  called  a  clinker.  Clinkers  give  off  but  little  heat  and  obstruct 
and  spoil  the  fire;  they  must  therefore  be  removed  as  fast  as  they 
form.  Their  presence' will  be  shown  by  a  tendency  of  the  fire  to 
spread  and  an  unusual  throwing  out  of  sparks.  If  indications  of 
clinkers  appear,  open  up  the  fire  with  a  poker,  and  as  soon  as  the 
air  touches  the  clinker  it  will  turn  black  and  become  a  solid  mass 
which  can  be  lifted  out  entire.  Tr\dng  to  drag  out  the  clinker 
without  opening  up  the  fire  only  results  in  breakmg  up  the  clinker 
and  making  the  fire  worse  than  it  was  before. 

HEATS. 

7.  There  are  four  degrees  of  heat  that  are  to  be  considered  by  the 
horseshoer,  and  they  are  generally  designated  as  the  black,  the 
cherry  red,  the  ivhite,  and  the  welding  or  sparking  heat. 

The  black  heat  is  when  the  shoe  is  hot  but  shows  no  color,  and 
is  used  in  making  minor  changes  in  shaping,  leveling,  and  in  open- 
ing nail  holes. 

The  cherry  red  heat  is  when  the  steel  or  iron  shows  a  bright  cherry- 
colored  glow.  It  is  used  in  the  general  shaping  of  the  shoe,  in 
pointing  the  pritchel,  and  in  sharpening  tools. 

The  next  degree  of  heat  is  called  the  ichite  heat  because  the  steel 
or  iron  then  shows  almost  that  color.  This  heat  is  used  when  it 
is  necessary  that  the  metal  should  be  very  pliable  and  easily 
worked,  as  in  drawing  toe  clips,  cutting  off  the  heels,  in  drawing 
the  heels  of  the  shoe,  in  hot  rasping,  and  in  turning  heel  calks. 

The  welding  heat  is  sometimes  called  sparking  heat  for  the  reason 
that  the  metal  then  gives  off  small  particles  which  explode  or 
spark  above  the  fire.     As  soon  as  the  sparks  appear  watch  the 

17722°— 17 2 


18  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

metal  closely,  and  when  the  part  to  be  welded  has  a  bubbling 
(fluxing)  appearance  it  must  be  withdrawn  from  the  fire  and 
worked  immediately.  The  success  of  a  weld  depends  entirely 
upon  the  proper  heat  of  the  parts  at  the  exact  moment  the  weld 
is  attempted, 

A  newly  made  coal  fire  can  be  used  for  ordinary  heating,  but 
for  a  welding  heat  coke  is  required.  Coke  is  ordinary  coal  from 
which  the  gases  have  been  driven  off  by  gradual  heating.  It  will 
be  found  ready  at  hand  around  the  edge  of  the  fire.  As  coke  doeo 
not  smoke,  there  is  no  trouble  in  observing  when  the  metal  has 
reached  exact  welding  heat. 


CHAPTER   III. 
WORKING  AND  SHAPING  IRON. 

THE    PLATE    SHOE. 

8.  As  a  preliminary  to  instruction  in  shaping  and  preparing  a 
shoe/or  the  foot,  it  is  best  for  beginners  to  learn  the  method  of  making 
and  shaping  a  plate  shoe,  using  an  old  shoe  as  a  model. 

The  various  parts  of  a  shoe  are  commonly  spoken  of  as  follows: 
The  toe  is  that  portion  between  the  first  nail  hole  on  one  side  and 
the  first  nail  hole  on  the  other  side.  The  quarters  ara  the  portions 
in  which  the  nail  holes  are  punched.  The  heels  are  the  remaining 
parts  of  the  shoe.  A  side  is  one-half  of  a  shoe,  and  includes  one  heel, 
one  quarter,  and  one-half  of  the  toe. 

The  plate  shoe  is  made  of  ^  by  ^  inch  steel  which  is  much  more 
easily  worked  than  the  heavier  service  shoe. 

Take  a  bar  of  metal  about  11  or  12  inches  in  length.^  ■ 

9.  To  bend  the  bar,  where  the  center  of  the  toe  wiU  be.— 
Place  the  bar  in  the  fire  so  that  the  center  is  directly  over  the  draft. 
The  coals  of  a  properly-made  fire  should  hold  the  bar  about  6  inches 
above  the  twyer  ball.  When  cherry  red,  remove  from  the  fire, 
holding  the  nearest  end  with  the  tongs  and  lean  the  other  end  on 
the  edge  of  the  anvil  farthest  from  you.  The  bar  is  held  on  edge 
and  at  an  angle  of  about  45°  with  the  face  of  the  anvil.     The  tongs 


1  The  length  of  bar  required  to  make  a  shoe /or  afoot  will  be  found  by  measuring 
in  a  straight  line  on  the  sole  of  the  foot  from  the  edge  of  the  wall  at  the  center  of  the 
toe  to  the  extremity  of  either  bulb  of  the  frog.  A  little  more  than  twice  this  distance 
will  be  the  length  of  the  bar  required  to  make  the  shoe. 

19 


20 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


grasp  the  bar  about  2  inches  from  the  end  and  an  equal  amount 
projects  over  the  edge  of  the  anvil,  so  that  the  point  struck  will  be 
midway  between  the  points  of  support. 


m 


Strike  lightly  with  the  hammer  at  the  center  of  the  upper  edge  of 
of  the  bar,  and  gradually  bend  the  bar  until  it  is  right  angled  or  L- 
shaped. 


If,  after  bending,  the  L  is  not  flat,  but  twisted,  it  must  be  leveled 
on  the  face  of  the  anvil. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


21 


Remember  to  use  only  light  blows  on  red  metal.     Heavy  blows 
leave  irregularities  that  are  difficult  or  impossible  to  remove. 


10.  To  shape  one  side.— Place  one-half  of  the  L  in  the  fire,  and 
when  heated  seize  the  cold  half  with  the  tongs  and  hold  the  heated 
side  diagonally  over  the  horn  of  the  anvil,  the  left  hand  near  the 


base  and  held  low,  the  heated  end  projecting  about  an  inch  over 
the  horn. 

Begin  striking  at  the  end  of  the  heated  portion  and,  keeping 
the  right  hand  steadily  in  position,  shape  the  steel  by  gradually 


22  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

moving  it  beneath  the  hammer.  Move  the  steel  over  the  horn  by 
raising  the  left  hand  and  carrying  it  toward  the  point  of  the  horn; 
that  is,  as  the  toe  is  approached,  shift  the  work  toward  the  point  of 


the  horn.     As  the  shoe  is  moved  toward  the  point  of  the  horn  the 
hammer  follows  the  curve  on  the  side  of  the  horn. 

The  horn  of  the  anvil  is  so  constructed  that  the  diagonal  curve 
across  the  center  conforms  to  the  shape  of  the  heels  and  quarters  of 


the  average  sized  foot  and  the  curve  near  the  point  is  shaped  like 
the  toe.     For  a  very  large  shoe  begin  near  the  base  of  the  horn. 
To  shape  the  opposite  side,  proceed  in  the  same  manner. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  27 

fourths  through  or  the  shoe  will  be  bulged  and  ruined.  The  tool 
is  held  slanted  outward  to  conform  to  the  direction  which  the  nail 
should  follow  and  the  hole  is  started  a  little  outside  of  the  center  of 
the  web. 

Heat  one  side  and  first  start  the  hole  nearest  the  toe.  Its  proper 
position  can  be  learned  by  examining  a  service  snoe  of  the  same 
size.  The  hole  at  the  bend  of  the  quarter  is  next  started,  and 
finally  the  hole  midway  between  the  two.  The  plate  shoe,  on 
account  of  its  light  weight,  requii'es  but  six  nails,  three  on  each, 
side. 

Heat  the  other  side  and  proceed  as  before. 


The  nail  holes  must  not  be  placed  too  far  back.  A  shoe  nailed 
back  of  the  turn  of  the  quarter  ^vill  impede  the  expansion  of  the 
hoof  and  eventually  cause  contraction  of  the  heels. 

If,  in  punching  the  nail  holes,  bulges  appear  near  them  on  the 
edges  of  the  bar  or  shoe,  they  must  be  removed  by  working  over 
the  horn.     (Same  position  and  means  as  for  drawing*^heels.) 

Punch  out  the  nail  holes  on  the  ground  surface,  holding  the 
pritchel  slanted  outward;  then  punch  out  the  holes  on  the  upper 
surface,  holding  the  pritchel  slanted  inward. 

In  pritcheling  out  a  nail  hole,  to  avoid  blunting  or  breaking 
the  point  of  the  pritchel,  that  part  of  the  shoe  where  the  nail  hole 
is  to  be  is  held  over  the  pritchel  or  hardy  hole. 

16.  Fitting.— The  shoe  is  now  ready  for  its  final  trial  and  is  ap- 
plied to  the  model. 


28  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

If  it  does  not  exactly  conform  to  the  model,  it  will  have  at  least 
one  of  the  following  faults,  which  must  be  corrected  according  to 
the  explanation  given  in  each  case. 


17.  Not  level. — To  level  the  shoe,  take  it  with  the  tongs  near  the 
toe  on  the  far  side  and  examine  it  by  sighting  over  the  upper  surface. 
If  it  appears  to  be  crooked,  lay  it  on  the  face  of  the  an\al  in  a  posi- 
tion allowing  the  highest  surface  to  be  struck  (par.  9).     If,  after 


remedying  this  defect,  a  similar  one  appears,  it  must  be  treated 
in  the  s^^me  manner.  A  crooked  shoe  will  not  stay  on  the  foot  and 
is  apt  to  cause  lameness. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


29 


When  leveling  the  ser\'ice  shoe,  if  it  be  found  necessary  to  strike 
on  the  gi'ound  siu'face  of  the  shoe,  let  the  blows  fall  over  the  crease 
in  order  to  avoid  spoiling  the  concave  of  the  upper  surface.     Special 


care,  however,  must  be  used  to  strike  a  square  blow.     If  the  face 
of  the  hammer  does  not  fall  evenly,  it  will  dent  and  close  the  crease. 
18.  Too  wide  at  the  toe.— Heat  the  toe  and  hold  it  on  the  ex- 
treme point  of  the  horn,  the  center  of  the  shoe  resting  on  the  horn 


of  the  anvil.     Strike  lightly  near  the  toe  on  the  side  farthest  from 
you,  then  reverse  the  toe  and  strike  as  before. 

Whenever  the  width  of  the  shoe  is  to  be  changed,  or  a  heel  or  a 
quarter  is  to  be  thrown  in  or  out,  first  make  a  guide  mark  on  the 


30  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

anvil.  To  do  this  hold  one  heel  against  the  edge  of  the  anvil  toward 
the  horn  and  draw  the  shoe  across  the  anvil  so  that  the  other  heel 
will  make  a  mark  on  the  face.  Repeat  this  after  the  change  is  made 
and  a  comparison  of  the  two  marks  will  show  the  amount  of  the 
change. 

19.  Too  narrow  at  the  toe.— Heat  the  toe  and  hold  it  on  the 
horn  of  the  anvil  so  that  there  will  be  a  small  space  between  the 
shoe  and  the  horn.  Strike  lightly  along  the  toe,  not  confining  the 
blows  to  any  one  spot. 

20.  One  heel  and  quarter  too  narrow.— To  throw  out  a  heel 
and  quarter  from  a  given  point.     Heat  the  quarter  and,  holding 


the  heel  on  the  horn,  strike  on  the  spot  from  which  it  is  desired  to 
spread  or  throw  out  the  heel  and  quarter. 

21.  One  heel  and  quarter  too  full.— (a)  To  throw  in  a  heel 
and  quarter  from  a  given  point.  Heat  the  quarter  and  hold  it 
over  the  j)oint  of  the  horn  of  the  anvil  so  that  the  shoe  will  rest 
upon  the  inside  edge  at  the  point  from  which  the  change  is  to  be 
made.     Strike  near  the  heel  on  the  part  projecting  over  the  horn. 

(6)  To  throw  in  one  side  without  changing  its  general  shape. 
Heat  the  side  that  is  to  be  thrown  in  and  close  the  shoe  bodily 
(par.  24),  which  operation  will  affect  the  hot  side  only. 

(c)  If  neither  of  these  methods  accomplishes  the  desired  result, 
the  quarter  must  be  reshaped  ov'er  the  diagonal  of  the  horn. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


31 


22.  A  bulge  in  the  quarter.— Heat  the  quarter  and  hold  over 
the  heel  of  the  anvil.     Strike  directly  over  the  bulge. 


This  will  remove  the  bulge,  but  will  also  slightly  straighten  the 
quarter,  which  must  later  be  reshaped. 

23.  A  short  straight  place  in  a  quarter.— Heat  the  quarter 
and  hold  the  straight  place  on  the  point  of  the  horn,  as  shown  in 


paragraph  21,  but  strike  alternate 
to  the  point  to  be  rounded. 


blows  on  each  side  of  and  close 


32  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

24.  Both  quarters  too  full  (with  the  general  shape  correct.)— 
Heat  the  whole  shoe  and,  holding  it  on  edge  on  the  face  of  the  anvil, 
strike  down  on  the  elevated  quarter.  This  will  narrow  or  close  the 
shoe,  but  will  not  change  its  general  shape. 


25.  Both  quarters  too  narrow  (with  the  general  shape  cor- 
rect).— Heat  the  whole  shoe  and,  holding  one  heel-on  the  face  of  the 
anvil  and  one  on  the  side,  strike  on  the  toe.  This  will  open  or 
spread  the  shoe  without  changing  its  general  shape. 


A  perfect  fit  having  been  obtained  the  nail  holes  are  repunched 
if  necessary,  and  the  whole  shoe  neatly  finished  with  the  rasp. 


>. 
)■ 

1 

C; 

Z>^ 

rr,     '.^r,.       12'                     /     '7 

Plate  IV.— Sagittal  Section  of  Digit  and  Distal  Part  of  Metacarpus  of 

Horse. 

A,  Metacarpal  bone;  B,  first  phalanx;  C,  second  phalanx;  D,  third  phalanx;  E,  distal 
sesamoid  bone;  1,  volar  pouch  of  capsule  of  fetlock  joint;  2,  intersesamoidean 
ligament;  3,  4,  proximal  end  of  digital  synovial  sheath;  5,  ring  formed  by  super- 
ficial flexor  tendon;  6,  fibrous  tissue  underlj'ing  ergot;  7,  ergot;  8,  9,  9',  branches 
of  digital  vessels;  10,  distal  ligament  of  distal  sesamoid  bone;  11,  suspensory  liga- 
ment of  distal  sesamoid  bone;  12,  12',  proximal  and -distal  ends  of  bursa  podotro- 
chlearis.    By  an  oversight  the  superficial  flexor  tendon  (behind  4)  is  not  marked. 

(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals;  copyright,  W.  E.  Saunders  Co.) 
17722°-17 3  33 


CHAPTER  IV. 
ANATOMY   AND   PHYSIOLOGY   OF   THE   HORSE'S   FCCT. 

26.  By  anatomy  of  the  foot  is  meant  a  description  of  the  various 
parts  entering  into  its  formation,  and  by  physiology  is  meant  the 
functions  or  uses  of  these  parts. 

27.  The  horse's  foot  is  composed  of  four  parts  —the  bones,  the 
elastic  structures,  the  corium,  and  the  outer  protective  covering  of 
horn,  called  the  hoof,  which  incloses  and  protects  the  other  parts. 

28.  The  bones  of  the  pastern  region  and  foot  form  a  column  ex- 
tending downward  from  the  fetlock  into  the  hoof.  They  are  the 
first  phalanx  (long  pastern  bone),  extending  from  the  fetlock  joint 
to  the  pastern  joint;  the  second  phalanx  (short  pastern  bone),  ex- 
tending fi-om  the  pastern  joint  to  the  coffin,  or  pedal,  joint  ;^  the  third 
phalanx  (coffin  bone)  and  the  navicular  hone  (distal  sesamoid).  (See 
PL  IV.) 

The  third  phalanx  (coffin  bone)  is  of  irregular  shape,  is  situated 
within  the  hoof,  and  is  similar  to  the  hoof  in  form.  The  surface  of 
the  front  and  sides  is  known  as  the  wall  surface.  It  has  a  number  of 
small  openings  for  the  passage  of  blood  vessels  and  nerves,  and  is 
roughened  to  give  attachment  to  the  laminar  corium  which  covers 
it.  At  the  top  of  this  surface,  in  front,  is  a  projection  called  the 
extensor  process,  to  which  is  attached  the  common  digital  extensor 
tendon  (common  extensor  of  the  fooi).  On  each  side  of  the  coffin 
bone  is  an  extension  to  the  rear  called  the  wing.  The  lateral  car- 
tilages are  attached  to  the  outer  and  upper  borders  of  the  wings  and 
the  ends  of  the  naxdcular  bone  are  attached  to  the  inner  surfaces. 

The  lower  surface  of  the  coffin  bone,  called  the  sole  surface,  is  con- 
cave, half-moon  shaped,  and  smooth,  except  at  the  back  part,  which 
is  roughened  for  the  attachment  of  the  tendon  of  the  deep  flexor  of 
the  foot.  It  is  called  the  tendinous  surface.  The  upper  surface, 
called  the  articular  surface  or  joint  surface,  articulates  with  the  second 
phalanx  and  na\icular  bone,  and  with  them  forms  the  coffin  joint. 

35 


36  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

The  navicular  bone  (distal  sesamoid)  is  an  elongated  irregular 
shaped  bone,  the  ends  of  which  are  attached  to  the  wings  of  the  third 
phalanx.     The  upper  and  front  surface  enters  into  the  coffin  joint 


Plate  v.— Skeleton  of  Digit  and   Distal  Part  of  Metacarpus  of  Horse; 
Lateral  View. 

1-7,  Eminences  and  depression  for  attachment  of  ligaments.    Cartilage  of  third 
phalanx  is  removed. 

(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals;  copyright,  W.  B.  Saunders  Co.) 


and  articulates  with  the  second  and  third  phalanges,  and  the  lower 
surface  is  covered  Avith  articular  cartilage  to  provide  a  smooth  surface 
for  the  movement  of  the  tendon  of  the  deep  flexor  of  the  foot. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  37 

29,  The  elastic  structures  are  the  cartilages  of  the  third  phalanx,  also 
known  as  the  lateral  cartilages  and  the  digital  cushion  (plantar 
cushion,  Pis.  IV  and  VI).  All  parts  of  the  foot,  except  the  bones, 
are  to  a  certain  extent  elastic,  but  these  structures  are  especially  so. 

The  lateral  cartilages  are  two  large  elastic  plates  of  cartilage,  one 
attached  to  the  top  of  each  wing  of  the  third  phalanx.  They  extend 
backward  and  upward  so  far  that  their  upper  borders  may  be  felt 
under  the  skin  above  the  coronet  at  the  heels. 


ullnUral  li  game  at 


Distal  bonlr 


Plate  VI.— Third  Phalanx  of  Horse;  Lateral  View. 
a,  b,  Anterior  and  posterior  extremities  of  cartilage. 
(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals;  copyright,  W.  B.  Saunders  Co.) 

The  digital  cushion  (plantar  cushion)  is  a  very  elastic  viedge-shaped 
pad,  which  fills  up  the  space  between  the  lateral  cartilages  on  the 
sides,  the  frog  below,  and  the  deep  flexor  tendon  of  the  foot  above. 
The  point,  or  front  part,  of  the  digital  cushion  extends  forward  to 
the  ridge  vhich  separates  the  sole  surface  from  the  tendinous  sm-face 
of  the  third  phalanx  and  lies  just  below  the  lo\\er  end  of  the  deep 
flexor  tendon.  The  base,  or  back  part,  is  covered  by  the  skin  above 
the  heels.  If  the  frog  comes  in  contact  with  the  gi'ound  when  the 
foot  is  planted,  the  digital  cushion  acts  as  a  buffer  and  prevents  jar. 
(See  PL  IV.) 


38  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

30.  The  horn  sea'eting  structures  of  the  foot  cover  the  bones  and 
elastic  structures.  This  tissue,  the  corium,  of  the  hoof,  is  highly- 
vascular  and  is  a  modified  form  of  the  true  skin,  or  dermis.  It 
develops  the  horn,  which  is  a  modified  form  of  the  epidermis.  It 
is  a  continuous  structure,  bat  for  description  is  divided  into  the 
perioplic  corium  or  ring,  coronary  corium  or  band  (Pis.  VII  and  VIII), 
laminar  corium  (sensitive  laminae,  PI.  VII),  the  corium  of  the  sole 


Cut  edge  of  skin 

Corium  of  periople 

Coronary  corium 

Laminar  corium 


Outline  of  hoof 


Plate  VII.— Lateral  View  of  Foot  of  Horse  after  Removal  of  Hoof  and 
Part  of  Skin. 

Dotted  lines  in  front  of  navicular  bone  indicate  position  of  coffin  joint.    (After 
Schmaltz,  Atlas  d.  Anat.  d.  Pferdes.) 

(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals;  copyright,  W.  B.  Saunders  Co.) 

(sensitive  sole,  Pis.  IV  and  VIII),  and  the  corium  of  the  frog  (sensitive 
frog,  PL  VIII).  All  except  the  sensitive  laminae  are  covered  A^ith 
fine  villi  which  secrete  different  parts  of  the  hoof. 

The  perioplic  corium  or  ring  is  a  narrow  band  of  tissue  just  below 
the  hair  at  the  coronet  and  above  the  coronary  band.  At  the  heels 
it  ^^idens  and  blends  with  the  corium  of  the  frog  (sensitive  frog). 
It  secretes  the  periople,  the  external  covering  of  the  wall. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  39 

The  coronary  coriiun  or  band  is  a  thick,  strong,  convex  band  of 
tissue  which  lies  in  a  groove  inside  the  top  of  the  wall  and  extends 
around  the  top  of  the  hoof.  It  secretes  the  middle  or  main  part 
of  the  wall. 

The  laminar  corium  (sensitive  lamina?,  fleshy  leaves,  PI.  VII) 
covers  and  is  firmly  attached  to  the  wall  surface  of  the  third  phalanx 
and  the  lower  part  of  the  outer  surface  of  its  cartilages.  It  secretes 
the  laminae,  the  inner  part  of  the  wall.     The  lamin:^  (fleshy  lea\es) 


, 

g'Ss 

—  P.rm,:,-  .,■ 

'■,0  orhulb 

Ln.nn.rr  ror. 

-1 

i 

■ 

Cnn'un  o(  i 

n 

1 

l&i'  jH 

—  _t..;.'.    '•.'"  •' 

<H 

/i.rs     • 

q 

' 

1 

fe 

w 

wwL 

w^ 

Plate  VIII.— Ground  Surface  of  Foot  of  Horse  after  Eemoval  of  Half  op 
Hoof  to  Show  Corium. 

(After  Schmaltz,  Atlas  d.  Anat.  d.  Tferdes.) 

(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals;  copyright,  W.  B.  Saunders  Co.) 

of  the  corium,  in  addition  to  supphdng  nourishment  to  the  homy 
laminae  and  the  horn  of  the  white  line,  through  their  strong  union 
with  the  laminae  of  the  wall  they  support  the  weight  of  the  horse  on 
the  hoof. 

The  corium  of  the  sole  (sensitive  sole.  Pis.  IV  and  VIII)  covers  the 
sole  sm-face  of  the  third  phalanx  and  secretes  the  sole. 

The  corium  of  the  frog  (sensitive  frog,  PL  VIII)  covers  the  lower 
surface  of  the  digital  cushion  and  secretes  the  frog. 


40 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


31.  The  hoof  is  the-outer  horny  covering  of  the  foot.  It  is  divided 
into  three  parts — the  wall,  sole,  and  frog.  In  the  healthy  foot  these 
parts  are  firmly  united. 


Plate  IX. 


-Digit  of  Horse,  Showing  Surface  Relations  of  Bones  and  Joints. 
The  Cartilage  Is  Largely  Exposed. 


a.  First  phalanx;  h,  second  phalanx;  c,  third  phalanx;  d,  cartilage;  c,  distal  sesa- 
moid or  navicular  bone;  /,  pastern  joint;  <;,  coffin.joint;  h' ,  cut  edge  of  wall  of  hoof 
(/();  I,  laminar  corium.    (After  EUenberger,  in  Leisering's  Atlas.) 

(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals,  copyright  W.  B.  Saimders  Co.) 

The  wall  (except  the  bars)  extends  from  the  edge  of  the  hairs  to 
the  ground,  and  is  that  part  of  the  hoof  which  is  seen  when  the  foot 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  41 

is  on  the  ground.  It  is  divided  into  the  toe,  quarters,  buttresses,  or 
heels,  and  the  bars.  The  toe  is  the  front  part  of  the  wall.  It  is 
steeper  in  the  hind  foot  than  in  the  fore.  The  quarter  extends  on 
each  side  from  the  toe  to  the  buttress,  or  heel.  The  buttress  is  that 
part  of  the  wall  where  it  bends  abruptly  inward  and  from  which  it 
extends  forward  and  forms  the  bar.  The  bar  extends  inward  and 
forward  from  the  buttress  along  the  frog  to  within  about  an  inch  of 
the  point  of  the  frog.  The  hoof  is  thus  made  stronger^  by  the  ends 
of  the  wall  being  extended  inward.  The  I^ars  are  weight  carriers, 
and  the}^  also  act  directly  on  the  wall  to  produce  expansion  when 
weight  is  placed  on  the  frog. 

The  wall  has  two  surfaces  and  two  borders.  The  external  surface 
is  smooth  and  is  covered  with  a  coat  of  fine  horn  called  the  per io pie. 

The  internal  surface  is  covered  with  from  500  to  600  laminx .  These 
are  thin  plates  of  horn  running  downward  and  forward.  Between^ 
them  are  fissures  into  which  dovetail  the  corresponding  laminte  of 
the  corium.  The  laminae  and  the  corresponding  laminae  of  the  ' 
corium  are  firmly  united,  and  this  union  (a)  binds  the  wall  of  the 
hoof  to  the  third  phalanx  and  its  cartilages;  (6)  suspends  the  weight 
of  the  horse  from  the  wall  as  in  a  sling;  and  (c)  thus  pre^'ents  the 
bones  from  descending  on  the  sole. 

The  upper  border  of  the  wall  has  a  deep  groove  in  which  lies  tlie 
coronary  corium.  or  band.  The  loAver  border  is  known  as  the  bearing 
surface,  or  spread.  It  is  the  part  that  comes  in  contact  with  the 
ground  in  the  unshod  foot  and  to  which  the  shoe  is  fitted  in  the 
shod  foot. 

The  sole  is  a  thick  plate  of  horn,  somewhat  half -moon  shaped. 
The  upper  surface  is  convex.  The  lower  surface  is  concave  and 
is  covered  with  scales  or  crusts  of  dead  horn,  which  gradually  loosen 
and  fall  off.  The  outer  border  of  the  sole  is  joined  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  inner  surface  of  the  wall  by  a  ring  of  soft  horn  called  the 
white  line.  The  inner  border  is  V-shaped,  and  is  in  union  with  the 
bars  except  at  the  apex  of  the  angle,  where  the  sole  joins  the  point 
of  the  frog.  The  sole  protects  the  sensitive  parts  above,  and  i  t  should 
not  bear  weight,  except  a  very  narrow  ship  on  its  border  along  the 
white  line,_  an  eighth  or  a  tenth  of  an  inch  iii  width. 

The  frog  is  a  wedge-shaped  mass  filling  the  V-shaped  space  between 
the  bars  and  sole  and  extending  downward,  more  or  less  below  the 
bars  and  sole.  The  lower  surface  has  two  prominent  ridges,  separated 
behind  by  a  cavity  called  the  cleft,  and  joining  in  front  at  the  point 


42  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

of  the  frog.  These  ridges  terminate  behind  in  the  bulbs  of  the  hoof. 
Between  the  sides  of  the  frog  and  the  bars  are  two  cavities  called  the 
commissures. 

The  upper  surface  of  the  frog  is  the  exact  reverse  of  the  lower.  It 
has  in  the  middle  a  ridge  of  horn  called  the  frog  stay,  which  assists 
in  forming  a  firm  union  between  the  frog  and  the  frog  corium. 

The  function  of  the  frog  is  to  assist  the  digital  cushion  in  breaking 
the  jar  or  concussion,  to  prevent  slipping  and  to  produce  expansion 
and  contraction  upon  which  normal  blood  circulation  in  the  foot 
depends.     (See  pars.  33  and  34.) 

STRUCTURE    OF    HORN". 

32.  The  horn  of  the  hoof  consists  of  fine  fibers,  similar  to  the  hair  in 
structure,  held  together  by  a  cementing  substance.    The  horn  fibers 

»  run  downward  and  forward  and  are  straight  in  the  wall  and  sole  and 
wa^^  in  the'  frog.  The  fibers  of  the  frog  are  finer,  softer,  and  more 
elastic  than  those  of  the  wall  and  sole. 

The  wall  wears  away  at  the  lower  border,  or,  if  the  animal  is  shod, 
the  growth  is  removed  in  preparation  for  shoeing.  The  sole  and  frog 
scale  off  when  the  fibers  have  reached  the  proper  length;  they  should 
not  be  cut  except  when  necessary  in  the  treatment  of  a  diseased 
condition. 

MOISTURE. 

33.  The  wall  of  the  healthy  hoof  is,  by  weight,  about  one-fourth 
water,  the  sole  more  than  one-third,  and  the  frog  almost  one-half. 
This  water  is  supplied  by  the  blood  and  preserves  the  horn  in  a 
tough  and  elastic  condition.  The  periople,  which  covers  the  wall, 
prevents  the  evaporation  of  water,  and  therefore  should  never  be 
rasped.     As  there  is  no  similar  covering  for  the  sole  and  the  frog, 

'  the  layers  of  horn  on  their  exposed  surfaces  dry  out  and  die.  The 
dead  layers  are  hard  and  brittle,  and  gradually  fall  or  flake  off;  but, 
as  they  preserve  the  moisture  in  the  layers  of  live  horn  beneath,  as 
little  as  possible  should  be  removed  in  preparing  the  hoof  for 
shoeing. 

EXPANSION    AND   CONTRACTION. 

34.  ^Vhen  the  foot  is  placed  on  the  ground  the  frog  comes  in 
contact  with  the  ground  and  is  forced  upward,  compressing  the 
digital  cushion  against  the  deep  flexor  tendon  and  the  bony  frame- 


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Plate  X.— Right  Fore  Hoof  of  Horse;  Ground  Surface. 

1.  Basal  or  ground  border  of  wall;  2,  laminae  of  wall;  3,  angle  of  wall;  4,  bar;  5,  sole: 
5',  angle  of  sole;  6,  white  line  (jimction  of  wall  and  sole);  7,  apex  of  frog;  8,  central 
sulcus  of  frog;  9,  9,  collateral  sulci  between  frog  and  bars;  10, 10,  bulbs  of  hoof. 

(From  Sisson's  Anatomy  of  the  Domestic  Animals,  copyright  W.  B.  Saunders  Co.) 

43 


44  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

work  above.  This  compression  causes  the  digital  cushion  and  frog 
to  spread  out  to  the  sides,  pressing  outward  energetically  the  carti- 
lages, the  bars,  and  the  walls  at  the  heels  and  quarters.  Tliis  is 
called  expansion.  It  does  not  occur  in  a  foot  so  shod  that  the  frog 
can  not  come  in  contact  with  the  ground. 

When  the  weight  is  removed  from  the  foot  the  digital  cushion  and 
frog  return  to  their  normal  shape,  allowing  the  cartilages  and  the 
quarters  to  return  to  their  original  positions.  This  is  called  contrac- 
tion. Upon  the  alternate  displacing  and  returning  of  these  parts  of 
the  foot,  nature  relies  for  necessary  beneficial  effects. 

This  expansion  and  contraction  diminish  the  jar  to  the  foot  and 
leg.  The  action  is  increased  as  the  horse  increases  his  gait.  This 
action  also  assists  in  the  circulation  of  the  blood  through  the  foot. 
When  expansion  occurs  the  blood  is  forced  out  of  the  veins  in  the 
digital  cushion  up  into  the  pastern  region,  where  the  valves  prevent 
its  return  to  the  foot.  When  contraction  occurs  and  the  parts 
resume  their  normal  positions  fresh  blood  is  drawn  from  the  arteries 
for  the  nourishment  of  the  tissues  of  the  foot.  For  this  reason  the 
horse  should  have  daily  exercise  to  gi^^e  the  tissues  of  the  foot  their 
proper  noiuishment.  When  the  horse  is  taken  out  to  work  he  should 
be  walked  at  first  to  allow  the  circulation  to  adjust  itself  to  the 
change  from  rest  to  work. 


Metacarpal  vein 
Digital  artery 


Flexor  temlon 


Corium  of  frog 


Tendon  of 
-common  digital  extensor 


Coronary  corium 

Laminar 
corium 

Wall 
Horny 
lamince 


Sole 


Foot  of  the   Horse. 
One-h alf  of  hoof  removed 


CHAPTER  Y. 
NORMAL  SHOEING. 

By  normal  slioeins:  is  meant  the  shoeing  cf  a  sound  foot  of  a 
horse  with  proper  gaits. 

RAISING   THE    FOOT. 

35.  In  preparing  to  raise  a  horse's  foot  never  approach  the  animal 
suddenly,  for  he  will  not  only  be  startled,  but  a  sudden  pull  at  his 
foot  will  probably  disturb  his  balance,  and  the  lifting  will  be  more 
difficult  for  both  man  and  horse. 

To  raise  the  forefoot,  the  shoer  stands  with  his  back  to  the  horse's 
head  and  places  his  inside  hand  on  the  horse's  shoulder.  Then, 
bending  over,  he  runs  his  hand  gently  down  the  back  of  the  leg 
until  the  fingers,  with  the  thumb  on  the  outside,  are  just  above 
the  fetlock.  The  sheer's  shoulder  is  pressed  against  the  shoulder 
of  the  horse,  forcing  the  weight  upon  the  other  fore  foot.  (PI.  XII, 
fig.  1.)  A  slight  grasp  of  the  hand  on  the  tendons  is  usually  suffi- 
cient to  induce  the  horse  to  raise  the  foot. 

The  shoer  next  straddles  the  horse's  leg  and  holds  the  foot  upon 
his  knees,  standing  so  that  his  body  is  about  opposite  the  horse's 
shoulder,  and  in  close  to  him,  so  that  the  horse's  leg  is  not  pulled 
outward  in  a  strained  position.  The  sheer's  toes  should  be  turned 
in  to  give  strength  to  the  position.     (PI.  XII,  fig.  2.) 

36.  Raising  the  hind  foot  is  performed  in  two  different  ways.  In 
the  first  method  the  shoer,  standing  at  the  horse's  flank  and  with 
his  back  to  the  animal's  head,  bends  until  his  shoulder  presses  the 
horse's  thigh,  runs  his  hand  gradually  down  the  tendons  and  grasps 
them  as  in  raising  the  forefoot.  In  the  second  method,  the  one 
generally  employed,  the  shoer  stands  as  in  the  first  method,  but 
with  his  outside  foot  advanced  (PL  XIII,  fig."  1);  the  hand  nearest 
the  horse  is  placed  upon  the  animal's  hip,  gently  pushing  him  over 
and  forcing  the  weight  upon  the  opposite  hind  foot;  meanwhile 
the  other  hand  is  run  slowly  down  the  back  tendons  from  below 

45 


Plate  XIL— Raising  the  Foot. 


46 


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Plate  Xlll.— Kaising  the  Foot. 


47 


48  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

the  hock.  The  leg  is  grasped  under  the  fetlock  and  is  slightly 
raised  forward.  The  shoer  now  swings  his  inside  leg  under  the  horse's 
leg  (PI.  XIII,  fig.  2),  presses  it  with  his  knee  and  extends  it  to  the 
rear  to  the  position  shown  in  Plate  XIII,  figure  3.  Care  must  be 
exercised  that  the  foot  is  not  held  too  high  nor  carried  too_  far  to  the 
rear  or  outward,  for  the  discomforts  of  these  strained  positions  will 
induce  the  horse  to  pull  his  leg  away. 

PRELIMINARY    EXAMINATIONS. 

37.  Three  careful  examinations  should  be  made  before  old  shoes 
are  removed  from  the  horse : 

1.  Of  the  action  of  the  feet  when  the  horse  is  in  motion. 

2.  Of  the  shape  and  position  of  the  feet  at  rest. 

3.  Of  the  evidence  of  wear  on  the  old  shoe. 

For  the  first  examination,  the  horse  having  free  use  of  his  head, 
should  be  led  at  a  walk  and  at  a  slow  trot  upon  level  ground.  UneA^en 
ground  will  produce  modifications  of  the  natural  gait,  and  a  tight 
rein  or  a  short  hold  on  the  halter  shank  will  also  alter  the  free,  natural 
motion.  The  shoer  assumes  a  squatting  position  and  observes  the 
feet  as  the  horse  is  led  past  him,  away  from  hini,  and  toward  him. 
The  manner  in  which  a  foot  leaves  the  ground,  its  path  in  the  air, 
and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  planted  should_  be  closely  watched 
in  order  to  detect  any  of  the  defects  of  gait  which  can  be  remedied 
by  intelligent  shoeing.     (See  Chapter  VI.) 

38.  For  the  second  examination,  the  horse  should  stand  at  ease 
on  the  floor ;  the  shape  of  each  foot  and  leg  should  be  observed  from 
the  front,  from  each  side,  and  from  the  rear,  care  being  exercisedthat 
the  leg,  at  the  time,  is  bearing  its  proper  share  of  the  aniniars  weight. 

The  shoer  first  studies  the  natiual  pastern  conformation.  Is_  the 
pastern  slanting  inward  (toe  in),  is  it  vertical  (straight),  or  is  it 
sloping  outward  (toe  out)?     (PI.  XIV,  figs.  1,  2,  and  3.) 

lla\ang  decided  this  point,  he  then  studies  the  position  of  the 
*' pastern  axis"'  and  the  "foot  axis." 

As  seen  from  the  front  we  may  consider  that  the  ''pastern  axis'' 
is  the  imaginary  line  exactly  splitting  the  long  pastern  in  two,  and 
that  the  "foot  axis"  is  the  line  exactly  splitting  the  foot  in  two; 
that  is,  the  line  from  the  center  of  the  toe  to  the  center  of  the  coronet. 
(The  foot  axis  may  be  drawn  on  the  hoof  wall  in  chalk.) 


PASTERN  CONFORMATION 


It' 


1.      TOE   IN  2       STRAIGHT  3.      TOE  OUT 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  HOOF. 


4.   BROKEN  OUT 


5   CORRECT 


6.   BROKEN  IN 


PASTERN  CONFORMATION. 


7.     SLOPING  8.     REGULAR  9.     STUMPY 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  HOOF. 


10.  BROKEN  BACK      11.  CORRECT        12.   BROKEN  FORWARD 


Plate  XIV.— The  Foot  Axis  and  the  Pastern  Axis. 
17722°— 17 4 


50  MANUAL  FOR  AEMY  HORSESHOERS. 

These  two  axes  should  be  in  prolongation  or  appear  to  be  one 
straignt  line  no  matter  what  the  natural  pastern  conformation  (figs.  1, 
2,  3,  and  5),  and  if  the  sheer  finds  this  condition  satisfactory  he  will 
simply  need  to  prepare  the  foot  evenly  for  shoeing,  as  explained 
later.  But  if  the  two  axes  do  not  appear  as  one  straight  line  there  will 
be  a  break  at  the  coronet.  This  is  a  proof  that  the  foot  is  not  level  and 
that  the  horse  is  not  standing  correctly.  If  the  line  is  "broken 
out"  (fig.  4)  the  prolongation  of  the  pastern  axis  falls  to  the  outside 
of  the  foot  axis  and  the  inner  wall  is  too  high,  and  the  fault  is  reme- 
died by  nipping  off  more  of  the  inside  wall  than  of  the  outside.  If 
the  line  is  "broken  in"  (fig.  6)  the  prolongation  "of  the  pastern  axis 
falls  to  the  inside  of  the  foot  axis  and  the  outside  wall  is  too  high 
and  should  be  trimmed  down  more  than  the  inside.  The  dotted 
lines  in  the  figures  show  the  amount  to  be  trimmed  off. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  "broken  out"  foot  looks  like  the  "toe 
in"  and  the  "broken  in"  foot  looks  like  the  "toe  out,"  but  in  the 
natural  conformations  there  is  no  break  at  the  coronet. 

39.  Standing  at  the  side,  the  sheer  should  notice  the  height  of 
the  foot,  the  length  of  the  toe,  and  the  slope  of  the  line  of  the  toe; 
that  is,  the  front  line  of  the  hoof  as  seen  from  the  side. 

Here,  again,  we  have  three  cases  of  natural  pastern  conformation: 
The  "sloping,"  the  "regular,"  and  the  "stumpy"  (figs.  7,  8,  and 
9);  but  the  line  of  the  toe  should,  nevertheless,  be  parallel  in  each 
case  to  the  pastern  axis  as  seen  from  the  side. 

By  careful  sighting  from  the  side,  draw  a  chalk  line  between  the 
second  and  third  clinches,  with  exactly  the  same  slope  as  the  line 
of  the  toe.  This  mark  will  generally  have  the  same  direction  as  the 
horn  fibers.  Now  stand  back  and  determine  if  this  mark  and  the 
"pastern  axis"  as  seen  from  the  side  are  one  and  the  same  line.  If 
so,  trim  off  the  surplus  growth  evenly.  If  not,  the  Hne  will  be 
broken  at  the  coronet.  In  "  broken  back"  (fig.  10)  the  prolongation 
of  the  pastern  axis  falls  to  the  rear  of  the  foot  axis  and  the  toe  is  too 
high  and  should  be  trimmed  more  than  the  heel;  in  "broken  for- 
ward ' '  the  prolongation  of  the  pastern  axis  falls  in  front  of  the  foot 
axis  and  the  heels  are  too  high  and  should  be  trimmed  more  than 
the  toe. 

The  "broken  back"  looks  like  the  sloping  pastern  and  the  "broken 
forward"  looks  like  the  stumpy  pastern.  The  break  at  the  coronet, 
however,  is  the  sure  guide. 

For  the  third  examination  the  foot  must  be  raised. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  51 

40.  The  wear  of  the  old  shoe  should  be  carefully  noted  as  a  check 
on  the  preceding  two  examinations.  If  the  shoe  has  worn  evenly, 
its  position  on  the  foot  was  undoubtedly  correct.  If  one  side  of 
the  shoe  shows  more  wear,  (a)  that  side  may  have  been  fitted  too 
closely;  (b)  there  may  be  some  fault  in  gait  which  should  have 
been  noted  in  the  first  examination;  (c)  the  foot  may  not  have  been 
properly  leveled  in  the  last  shoeing;  (d)  the  quarters,  as  frequently 
happens,  may  have  grown  unevenly  since  the  last  shoeing.  Horses 
with  long,  sloping  pasterns  wear  the  shoe  more  at  the  heel,  while  those 
with  short,  upright  pisterns  wear  the  shoe  more  at  the  toe.  There 
is  a  slight  scuff  at  the  moment  of  breaking  over,  which  produces  a 
normal  wear  at  the  toe,  but  overworked  horses  and  those  suffering 
from  disease  show  more  than  this  normal  wear. 

REMOVAL    OF   THE    OLD    SHOE. 

41.  The  clinches  are  cut  off  or  straightened  with  the  clinch  cutter 
and  hammer.  The  sharp  edge  of  the  clinch  cutter  is  placed  under 
the  edge  of  the  clinch  and  struck  with  the  hammer  until  the  clinch 
turns  up  flat  against  the  wall  or  is  broken  off.  If  even  one  clinch 
is  left  holding  it  may  break  off  the  portion  of  the  wall  to  which  it 
is  fastened. 

Beginning  at  the  heel,  each  side  of  the  shoe  is  loosened  with 
the  pincers  and,  gradually  working  toward  the  toe,  is  separated 
from  the  hoof  until  all  the  nails  are  free  except  those  at  the  toe. 
The  shoe  is  firmly  grasped  at  the  toe  with  the  pincers  and  is  pulled 
toward  the  center  of  the  foot.  If  pried  over  the  toe  toward  the 
outside  of  the  foot,  part  of  the  hoof  may  be  broken  off.  Any  stubs 
of  nails  remaining  in  the  foot  must  be  removed. 

TO    PREPARE    THE    FOOT. 

42.  With  the  horse  standing  evenly  on  its  feet,  examine  the  foot 
and  pastern  axes  to  determine  the  necessary  changes,  if  any,  to 
be  made  besides  the  removal  of  the  surplus  growth  of  horn.  Then 
taking  the  knife  in  the  right  hand,  back  of  the  hand  do^vn,  the 
blade  coming  out  at  the  little  finger,  palm  of  tlie  left  hand  supporting 
the  wall  of  the  hoof  and  the  left  thumb  on  the  blade  to  assist  in 
cutting  and  to  prevent  slipping,  pare  away  the  dead  horn  near 
the  uhite  line  until  live  horn  is  reached,  being  careful  not  to  go 

farther  back  than  the  last  nail  hole.     This  is  done  to  ascertain  the 
amount  of  horn  that  may  be  removed  and  to  facilitate  the  use  of 


52 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


the  nippers.  The  knife  must  never  be  used  on  the  bars  or  the 
frog.  The  bars  strengthen  the  hoof  and  assist  in  its  expansion. 
Cutting,  therefore,  weakens  them  and  prevents  them  from  performing 
their  function.  Never  use  a  knife  on  the  hoof  of  a  horse  that  has 
been  running  barefoot,  nor  on  flat  feet,  either  natural  or  diseased. 

Ragged  parts  of  the  frog  may  be  cut  away  by  careful  use  of  the 
nippers. 

In  removing  surplus  growth  of  horn  it  is  safer  to  lower  the  toe 
first,  for,  if  the  heels  be  lowered  and,  later,  it  is  found  that  a  cor- 
responding amount  of  horn  can  not  be  cut  from  the  toe,  it  will  be 
impossible  to  put  the  foot  at  the  proper  angle  without  the  use  of 
heel  calks  or  a  thickened  web  at  the  heels. 

Taking  the  nippers  in  both  hands  so  that  the  handles  are  per- 
pendicular to  the  plane  of  the  bearing  surface,  begin  at  the  last 
nail  hole  and  cut  until  the  white  line  shows  plainly  and  live  horn 
has  almost  been  reached;  start  with  a  thin  cut  or  bite  and  gradually 
increase  the  depth  of  bite  to  the  point  of  the  toe;  continue  along 
the  opposite  wall  to  the  last  nail  hole  on  that  side,  gradually 
diminishing  the  bite. 

43.  Heavy  horses  with  wide  feet  and  horses  raised  on  soft,  marshy 
pastures  usually  have  fiat  feet.  The  natural  flat  foot,  although 
particularly  liable  to  bruises  of  the  sole,  must  be  classed  as  a  sound 
foot  and  must  be  distinguished  from  one  that  is  flat  as  a  result  of 
disease. 

On  account  of  its  shape,  the  natural  flat  foot  is  sometimes  called 
"flare  foot."  The  wall  in  such  a  foot  wears  away  (or  is  trimmed 
away)  at  a  more  oblique  angle  than  in  the  ordinary  upright  foot, 
and  it  is  therefore  frequently  necessary,  in  the  preparation,  to 
remove  a  part  of  the  outer  edge  of  the  wall  in  order  that  the  nails 
may  be  driven  in  the  white  line  where  they  belong. 


Thg  preceding  figures  clearly  explain  this  case,  which  must  be 
remembered  as  the  only  case  where  it  is  permitted  to  rasp  the  outside 
of  the  wall. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  53 

44-  In  general. — The  foot  should  be  prepared  so  that  it  will  ap- 
proximate as  nearly  as  possible  to  a  state  of  nature,  and  only  such 
trimming  is  allowed  as  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  purpose  of 
fitting  and  securing  the  shoe. 

TO    LEVEL    THE    FOOT. 

45.  Grasp  the  rasp  with  the  right  hand,  the  left  hand  near  the 
far  end,  left  palm  resting  on  the  upper  surface  to  act  as  a  guide. 
Place  the  coarse  side  of  the  rasp  against  the  ground  surface  of  the 
wall  on  the  right  half  of  the  foot,  and  with  long,  even  strokes,  smooth 
off  the  foot  where  it  has  been  cut  ^vith  the  nippers.  Then  work  on 
the  buttress  and  bring  it  to  the  same  level  as  the  quarter  and  toe, 
removing  such  horn  as  mav  be  necessary  and  no  more.  Beginners 
usually  bear  too  strongly  with  the  right  hand  and  remove  more  with 
the  hind  part  of  the  rasp  than  with  the  front  part.  Avoid  this  fault. 
Frequent  tests  should  be  made  to  avoid  removing  too  much  of  the 
horn.  For  this  purpose,  take  the  foot  in  both  hands  and  press  with 
the  thumbs  near  the  white  line;  if  the  sole  yields  ever  so  slightly 
no  more  horn  should  be  rasped  away  or  lameness  will  result.  Work 
carefully  and  slowly  on  the  flat  fool,  which  has  a  thinner  sole  than 
the  cup-shaped  foot. 

For  the  left  half  of  the  foot  reverse  the  hands  on  the  rasp  and  pro- 
ceed as  above.  This  half  will  be  found  more  difficult  at  first  on 
account  of  the  awkward  position,  and  as  a  result  the  work  will  often 
be  slighted.  Experience  with  beginners  shows  that  the  right- 
handed  man  leaves  the  left  half  too  high  four  times  out  of  five. 

To  determine  the  level  of  the  foot,  the  sheer  raises  the  foot  to  a 
position  for  sighting  over  the  bearing  or  ground  surface;  let  the  foot 
hang  naturally  and  do  not  press  against  it  with  the  thumb,  as  this 
is  apt  to  disturb  the  pastern  and  foot  axes  and  make  the  foot  appear 
level  when  it  is  not;  sight  over  each  side  separately,  from  the  but- 
tress to  the  toe,  and  note  any  irregularities  which  may  appear  in 
these  two  surfaces;  now  continue  the  plane  of  the  quarter  and  heel, 
on  one  side  across  or  through  the  horny  frog  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  foot,  for  the  purpose  of  determining  whether  or  not  the  two  sides 
are  in  the  same  plane.  This  may  be  done  with  the  eye  by  drawing 
an  imaginary  line,  or  by  placing  the  smooth  surface  of  the  rasp  on  a 
level  with  the  bearing  surface  of  the  foot,  as  indicated  by  the  line 
€—f.  To  determine  the  level  of  this  plane,  draw  an  imaginary  verti- 
cal line  through  the  cleft  of  the  frog,  as  shown  bv  the  line  c — d.     If 


54 


Plate  XV.— Level  of  the  Foot. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  55 

the  latter  line  (c—d)  is  perpendicular  (forming  right  angles)  to  the 
line  e—f,  the  plane  of  the  foot  is  level.  Both  sides  may  be  in  the 
same  plane  and  the  foot  not  level.  In  such  a  case  the  plane  is  canted. 
The  line  e—f  represents  a  canted  plane,  and  it  will  be  noted  that  it 
does  not  form  right  angles  with  the  vertical  line  c — d.  The  true  or 
level  plane  will  be  found  at  the  line  a—b,  which  line  forms  a  perfect 
right  angle  with  the  line  c — d.     (PI.  XV.) 

46.  Place  the  foot  on  the  ground  and  examine  it  from  all  sides 
and  note  carefully  the  following:  Does  the  foot  stand  at  the  prescribed 
angle;  are  the  quarters  equal  in  height;  is  the  foot  either  broken  out 
or  broken  in?  If  any  of  these  conditions  is  not  correct .  the  necessary 
changes  should  now  be  made. 

When  the  leveling  of  the  foot  is  completed,  observe  whether  the 
sole  is  level  with  the  wall  at  the  inner  angle  of  the  buttress;  if  it  is, 
remove  a  thin  plate  of  horn,  not  over  an  eighth  of  an  inch  thick, 
with  the  knife,  being  careful  not  to  cut  the  walls  or  bars.  This  is 
to  prevent  pressure  on  the  sole,  which  might  result  in  corns  at  this 
point. 

47.  Plate  XVI  shows  the  appearance  of  a  foot  before  and  after 
preparation.  This  is  the  near  forefoot  of  a  field  artillery  wheel 
horse,  and  was  selected  on  account  of  the  clearly  defined  bars.  It 
is  to  be  observed  that  in  leveling  the  bottom  of  this  foot,  it  being  a 
case  of  flat  foot,  the  rasp  trims  off  the  sole  inside  of  the  proper  weight- 
bearing  surface.     The  shoe  should  bear  upon  the  latter  surface  only. 

THE    SHOE. 

48.  "\Mien  horses  are  in  constant  use,  it  is  necessary  to  prevent 
the  too  rapid  wear  of  the  hoof.  The  modern  shoe,  beyond  all  ques- 
tion, is  the  best  means  to  accomplish  this  result,  although  it  seri- 
ously interferes  with  the  natural  contraction  and  expansion  of  the 
foot.  "When  shoes  are  left  on  the  feet  for  too  great  a  length  of  time, 
corns  and  other  ailments  result.  Ordinarily  a  shoe  should  be  re- 
newed once  a  month.  The  heavier  the  shoe,  the  greater  the  labor 
of  the  horse.  Hence,  except  in  special  cases,  the  lightest  shoe  that 
will  last  about  four  weeks  is  the  best  shoe.  The  shoe  should  care- 
fully follow  the  form  of  the  foot.  If  the  foot  is  broken,  the  shoe 
follows  the  original  shape  of  the  foot.  The  upper  and  lower  sur- 
faces of  the  shoe  should  be  wider  at  the  toe  than  at  the  heels.  At 
the  toe  the  width  should  be  about  twice  the  thickness  of  the  wall 
of  the  hoof  at  that  point.    The  length  of  the  shoe  is  regulated  by 


MANTJAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  57 

the  bulb  of  the  frog,  and  the  thickness  of  metal  is  made  sufficient 
to  wear  about  one  month. 

The  ground  surface  of  the  shoe  should  be  level.  That  portion 
of  the  upper  surface  which  presses  against  the  bearing  surface  of  the 
foot  must  be  level,  smooth,  and  accurately  shaped  to  support  it, 
and  when  the  upper  shoe  surface  is  wider  than  the  bearing  surface 
the  inner  edge  must  be  concaved  to  avoid  excessive  sole  pressure.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  important  requisites  of  correct  horseshoeing. 
Care  must  be  taken  only  to  concave  enough  to  remove  sole  pressure. 
Do  not  leave  too  much  space  between  the  shoe  and  sole,  for  this 
allows  small  pebbles,  grit,  and  dirt  to  collect,  which  allows  sole 
pressure  at  small  points,  which  is  very  harmful.  Concussion  of  the 
sole  against  the  inner  edge  of  the  upper  shoe  surface  invaria])ly 
produces  soreness.  The  outer  edge  of  the  upper  surface  should  be 
slightly  rounded.  This  adds  to  the  appearance,  produces  a  better 
fitting  shoe,  and  to  a  marked  degree  prevents  cutting  if  the  horse 
travels  close.  The  width  of  the  crease  of  the  shoe  should  be  uniform, 
and  its  depth  about  two-thirds  of  the  thickness  of  the  shoe.  The 
crease  makes  the  shoe  lighter  in  proportion  to  its  width  and  is  an 
aid  to  prevent  slipping.  Nail  holes  should  be  punched  to  fall  over 
the  outer  edge  of  the  white  line. 

Clips  are  semicircular  ears  drawn  upward  from  the  outer  edge  of 
the  shoe  to  prevent  its  slipping.  A  clip  extends  above  the  upper 
surface  a  distance  equal  to  the  thickness  of  the  shoe,  or  sometimes 
farther  on  hind  shoes.  When  leather  is  interposed  between  the  shoe 
and  the  bearing  surface,  the  clip  must  be  correspondingly  raised. 
Toe  and  side  clips  assist  the  nails  in  holding  the  shoe  in  place. 

NORMAL   SHOES. 

49.  By  a  normal  shoe  is  meant  a  shoe  for  a  sound  foot  of  a  horse 
with  proper  gaits.  The  service  shoe  (PL  XVII,  fig.  1)  is,  of  course, 
a  normal  shoe. 

In  the  mounted  service  four  sizes  of  machine-made  shoes  are 
issued.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  heels  are  much  longer  than  neces- 
sary, but  they  are  manufactured  in  this  manner  so  that  the  extra 
length  can  be  used  in  turning  heel  calks  or -in  making  a  bar  shoe. 
It  often  happens  that  a  larger  size  is  required  for  the  front  than  for 
the  hind  foot  of  the  same  horse. 

Three  other  shoes  belong  to  this  class: 

The  calked  shoe  (fig.  2)  is  used  to  enable  the  horse  to  secure  firm 
footing  on  slippery  or  ice-covered  roads.     Its  use  must  be  confined 


00 

(^O 


1.  The  service  shoe.  2.  Calked  shoe. 

3.  Plate.  4.  Snow  shoe. 

Plate  XVII.— Normal  Shoes. 

58 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  69 

to  actual  necessities,  for  the  calks  raise  the  frog  from  the  ground 
and  prevent  natural  expansion  and  contraction.  Permanent  con- 
traction of  the  heels,  and  even  sidebones,  result  from  the  constant 
use  of  this  shoe. 

Sharpened  calks,  for  use  on  ice,  are  even  more  to  be  avoided  on 
account  of  injuries  caused  by  interfering  and  by  kicking. 

The  ^ylate  (fig.  3)  is  merely  a  light-weight  shoe  turned  from  bar 
steel. 

The  snow  shoe  (fig.  4)  has  a  smooth,  concave  ground  web,  which, 
to  a  great  extent,  prevents  the  accumulation  of  snow  and  mud,  and 
also  gives  firmer  footing.  The  figure  shows  a  shoe  turned  from  the 
issue  shoe. 

THE    SERVICE    SHOE. 

50.  Selecting  the  shoe.— The  foot  having  been  prepared,  lev- 
eled, and  made  ready  for  the  shoe,  estimate  the  size  of  the  shoe 
required.  To  do  this  it  is  necessary  for  the  beginner  to  place  it  on 
the  foot  and  note  the  position  of  the  nail  holes,  being  careful  not  to 
take  a  shoe  in  which  the  last  nail  hole  will  be  in  the  rear  of  the  bend 
of  the  quarter.  Take  the  lightest  shoe  of  the  desired  size  that  may 
be  available. 

Now  examine  the  pritchel,  and  if  it  is  not  of  the  proper  shape 
point  it.     {See  Tools.) 

51.  The  successive  steps  in  fitting  the  ser\dce  shoe  should  always 
be  taken  up  in  the  following  order: 

1.  Draw  the  toe  clip. 

2.  Make  the  necessary  changes  in  the  toe. 

3.  Concave  the  shoe. 

4.  Open  the  nail  holes. 

5.  Shape  the  quarters. 

6.  Cool  and  make  the  first  trial  for  fit;  at  this  time  make  the  seat 
for  the  clip. 

7.  Make  any  change  in  outline. 

8.  Draw  the  heels. 

9.  Cut  off  the  heels. 

10.  Finish  the  heels. 

11,  Go  over  concavinfj  and  level  the  shoe." 


60  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

5?.  Drawing  the  toe  clip.— Fitting  hammers  with  two  different 
styles  of  peen  are  considered  in  this  work.  The  one  with  the  round- 
edged  end  to  the  head  of  the  hammer,  is  shown  in  the  following 


cuts.  For  the  fitting  hammer,  with  spherical  peen,  see  Plate  I, 
l)aragraph  1.  Having  procured  a  shoe  of  the  desired  size  and  having 
noted  the  general  changes  to  be  made  in  its  shape,  especially  at 


the  toe,  place^  the  toe  of  the  shoe  in  the  fire,  ground  web  down. 
"\Mien  the  toe  is  white  hot  take  the  tongs  in  the  left  hand,  seize  the 
shoe  near  the  heel  on  the  side  nearest  you,  remove  it  from  the  fire 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  61 

and  place  it  on  the  face  of  the  anvil  ground  web  up,  center  of  toe 
projecting  over  the  anvil  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch,  heels  held  at 
an  angle  of  about  30°.  With  smart  strokes  with  the  peen  of  the 
hammer  drive  down  the  center  of  the  toe  until  a  small  shoulder 
appears  underneath;  place  this  shoulder  against  the  far  edge  of  the 
anvil,  holding  the  shoe  so  that  the  heels  form  an  angle  of  about  45° 
beloAv  the  face.  Hold  the  right  hand  low  and  with  strokes  toward 
you  along  the  face  of  the  anvil,  using  the  heel  of  the  face  of  the 
hammer,  draw  out  the  toe  clip,  bringing  the  heels  closer  to  the  anvil 
as  the  clip  is  drawn.  Be  careful  that  the  clip  is  in  the  center  of  the 
shoe.  The  clip,  when  finished,  should  be  a  little  higher  than  the 
thickness  of  the  shoe. 

53.  Fitting. — The  toe  is  then  opened,  as  may  be  necessary  Cpar. 
19),  being  careful  not  to  injure  the  clip.     To  open  the  toe  of  a  large 


shoe  where  the  horn  of  the  anvil  is  too  small  for  the  usual  method, 
hold  the  shoe  as  shown  in  paragraph  19,  but  pull  the  quarter  on  the 
side  opposite  you  firmly  against  the  horn.  Then  strike  on  that 
quarter  near  the  toe,  bringing  the  hammer  toward  you  and  keeping 
up  the  pull  on  the  tongs.  The  other  side  is  opened  in  a  similar 
manner  after  reversing  the  shoe.  This  method  is  frequently  used 
in  fitting  the  very  large  shoes  required  for  horses  of  siege-gun 
batteries,  etc. 

In  the  service  shoes  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  use  the  countersink 
for  nail  holes,  because  the  crease  is  wide  enough  to  take  the  nailhead. 
Use  the  pritchel  to  open  the  holes,  as  in  paragraph  15,  but  pritchel 


62  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

the  upper  surface  ^rs^  in  order  to  give  the  nail  holes  the  proper  slope 
and  to  remove  the  slight  burr  left  on  the  machine-punched  shoe, 
and  the  lower  surface  last,  so  that  the  hole  will  be  finished  in  the 
shape  of  the  nail.  For  the  first  work  the  shoe  may  be  placed  any- 
w^here  on  the  face  of  the  anvil,  because  the  service  shoe  is  thick 
enough  to  prevent  any  chance  of  spoiling  the  point  of  the  pritchel; 
but  for  the  last  work  the  pritchel  or  hardy  hole  must  be  utilized, 
as  previously  explained.  The  toe  clip  generally  makes  it  difficult 
or  impossible  to  place  the  nail  hole  nearest  the  toe  over  the  pritchel 
or  hardy  hole.  For  these  nail  holes  shift  the  shoe  to  the  nearest  end 
of  the  face  of  the  anvil  and  hold  the  nail  hole  slightly  outside  of 
the  edge. 

It  will  generally  be  found  that  the  work  up  to  this  stage  can  be 
done  with  the  heat  remaining  from  that  required  for  the  toe  clip. 
Beginners,  however,  may  find  it  necessary  to  reheat  the  shoe  in 
order  to  open  the  toe.  In  tliis  case,  place  the  shoe  in  the  fire  with 
the  clip  up,  to  avoid  burning  it. 

Cool  the  shoe  and  apply  it  to  the  foot.  In  order  to  secure  a  neat 
fit  at  the  toe  it  is  necessary  to  make  a  seat  for  the  clip,  which  other- 
wise will  stand  out  its  full  thickness.  Now  is  the  time  to  prepare 
this  seat.  Place  the  shoe  in  position  with  the  clip  accurately 
centered,  and,  using  the  knife,  scratch  a  small  mark  on  the  edge  of 
the  wall  at  each  end  of  the  clip.  Put  the  shoe  aside  and  carefully 
whittle  away  the  edge  of  the  wall  between  the  two  marks.  Work 
slowly  and  test  frequently  by  replacing  the  shoe,  so  that  you  will 
cut  away  just  what  is  necessary  and  no  more.  {See  Seedy  toe, 
par.  86.) 

Now  make  the  first  trial  of  the  fit.  If  the  toe  is  correct,  note 
where  either  of  the  sides  needs  reshaping.  The  quarters  will  usually 
be  found  too  full,  and  if  so  must  be  heated  and  shaped  over  the  horn 
by  the  method  explained  in  the  plate  shoe,  except  that  the  shoe 
is  slightly  turned  so  that  blows  will  fall  on  the  edge  of  the  upper 
surface  in  order  to  avoid  closing  the  crease. 

The  outline  of  the  finished  shoe  must  exactly  follow  the  outer 
edge  of  the  hoof  to  the  last  nail  hole,  and  gradually  widen  from  that 
point  so  that  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  of  the  upper  surface  will 
show  at  the  end  of  the  heel.  If,  however,  a  foot  is  found  to  have  a 
portion  of  the  wall  broken  off  when  the  animal  is  brought  to  the 
shop,  the  shoe  must  be  fitted  so  as  to  follow  the  original  outline  of 
the  wall.  Fitting  the  shoe  so  that  the  nail  holes  will  fall  on  the 
outer  edge  of  the  white  line  is  a  good  guide  for  outline  in  the  case  of 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  63 

a  bad  break.  If  the  toe  lias  been  broken,  the  shoe  is  fitted  as  just 
explained,  but,  of  course,  there  are  no  nail  holes  to  act  as  a  guide. 
The  toe  clip  is  omitted  and  side  clips  are  used  if  necessary. 

The  bearing  surface  of  the  shoe,  upon  which  rest  the  wall,  the 
white  line,  and  not  more  than  an  eighth  of  an  inch  of  the  sole,  must 
be  level,  fit  exactly  to  the  hoof  (without  any  air  space),  and  extend 
back  even  with  the  bulb  of  the  frog.  The  part  of  the  upper  surface 
inside  of  this  bearing  surface  must  be  concaved  (hammered  down 
while  the  shoe  is  hot)  in  order  to  avoid  any  possibility  of  sole  pressure 
wliich  would  produce  lameness.  At  the  heels  there  should  be  no 
conca\4ng,  but  the  sharp  inside  edge  should  be  slightly  rounded. 
(Par.  89.) 

The  width  of  the  heels  of  all  finished  shoes  must  conform  to  the 
width  of  the  buttress.  In  shoeing  a  foot  with  a  very  wide  buttress 
it  is  often  unnecessary  to  draw  the  heels  at  all,  but  in  most  cases 
they  must  be  drawn  as  explained  in  the  plate  shoe.  (Par.  12.) 
Remember  that  the  bearing  surface  of  the  shoe  must  cover  the  buttress 
and  you  then  have  a  guide  for  the  width  of  the  drawn  heels. 

In'tlie  issue  shoe,  the  outer  edge  is  beveled  as  far  back  as  the  end 
of  the  crease,  but  is  square  from  that  point  to  the  end  of  the  heels. 
In  finishing  the  shoe,  bevel  the  square  part  also. 

THE    CALKED    SHOE. 

54.  The  service  shoe,  as  previously  explained,  is  issued  with 
heels  sufficiently  long  to  permit  its  conversion  into  a  calked  shoe. 

To  turn  in  a  heel  calk. — Heat  the  heel  to  a  white  heat.  Remove 
the  shoe  from  the  fire  'with  the  tongs  holding  it  near  the  toe;  place  the 
shoe  at  any  convenient  part  of  the  face  of  the  anvil  with  the  ground 
surface  down,  a  half  to  three-quarters  of  an  inch  of  the  heel  projecting 
over  the  heel  of  the  anvil.  Strike  on  the  part  of  the  heel  projecting 
over  the  edge  and  turn  it  at  a  right  angle  to  the  shoe.  The  height  of 
the  heel  calk  should  correspond  to  that  of  the  toe  calk.  The  calk  is 
squared  by  working  on  the  face  of  the  anvil;  place  one  side  on  the 
face  and  strike  on  the  upper  side. 

To  weld  on  the  toe  calk.— The  issue  toe  calk  has  a  shai-p  nib 
or  point  on  that  surface  which  is  applied  to  the  ground  surface  of  the 
shoe.  Heat  the  toe  of  the  shoe  to  a  white  heat  and,  placing  it  on  the 
face  of  the  anvil  with  the  ground  surface  up,  hold  the  calk  \dt\\.  the 
tongs  across  the  toe  and  far  enough  back  so  as  to  allow  for  turning 
the  toe  clip.  Strike  a  few  light  blows  to  drive  the  nib  into  the  shoe 
until  the  calk  and  shoe  are  touching. 


64  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Return  the  shoe  to  the  fire,  calk  up,  and  tilt  or  rock  the  shoe 
forward  and  back  to  insure  equal  heating  of  both  shoe  and  calk. 
WTien  the  proper  heat — fluxing — (see  Heats)  has  been  obtained, 
place  the  shoe  on  the  face  of  the  anvil  as  before  and  strike  a  few  light 
blows  on  the  calk. 

Reheat  to  the  welding  heat  and  place  the  calk  on  tl  3  face  of  the 
anvil.  Strike  a  few  heavier  blows  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  shoe 
directly  over  the  calk. 

Fitting. — The  calked  shoe  is  fitted  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
service  shoe,  with  the  exception  that  the  heels  are  made  a  little 
longer  and*  are  slightly  turned  out  from  the  end  of  the  buttress  in 
order  to  give  a  wider  support  to  the  foot  and  to  thus  prevent  as  far 
as  possible  the  rocking  of  the  shoe.  For  use  on  ice  the  calks  are 
sharpened,  but  a  horse  so  shod  must  never  be  turned  loose  with  other 
horses. 

The  use  of  the  calk  shoe  is  prohibited  except  at  times  when  local 
conditions  make  its  use  absolutely  necessary  to  prevent  slipping. 

KAIL    DRIVING. 

55.  The  nails  issued  in  the  mounted  service  are  machine-made, 
and  the  sizes  in  general  use  are  Nos.  4,  5,  6,  and  7.  No.  4  nail  is 
used  for  plate  shoes;  No.  5  nail  for  a  No.  1  and  2  shoe;  No.  6  nail  for  a 
No.  3  and  4  shoe;  No.  7  nail  for  the  large  feet  of  some  artillery  horses. 

One  side  of  the  shank  of  the  nail  is  flat;  the  other  side  is  concave 
and  also  has  a  bevel  near  the  point.  This  bevel,  as  it  enters  into  the 
horn,  forces  the  point  of  the  nail  in  the  direction  of  the  other  side 
(flat  side).  Therefore  always  hold  the  nail  with  the  flat  side  toivard 
the  outside  edge  of  the  shoe. 

By  driAdng  nails  into  the  wall  of  the  foot  some  of  the  horn  tubes 
are  destroyed,  and  the  higher  the  nails  are  driven  the  greater  the 
injury  to  the  wall.  Nails  should,  therefore,  come  out  at  a  height 
just  sufficient  to  hold  the  shoe — not  exceeding  one  inch — and  in 
order  to  damage  the  wall  as  little  as  possible,  both  the  size  and  the 
number  of  the  nails  should  be  as  small  as  will  accomplish  this  object. 

The  outside  of  the  white  line  is  the  correct  place  to  start  the  nails, 
and  shoes  should  be  fitted  with  this  end  in  view.  Nails  thus  started 
come  out  evenly  on  the  wall,  are  low,  and  at  a  strong  angle. 

To  the  experienced  shoer  the  feel  and  the  sound  of  the  nail  and 
the  amount  of  force  required  in  driving  are  important  guides. 

The  nail  is  held  between  the  thumb  and  fingers  to  steady  it  in 
starting,  and,  if  going  properly,  it  imparts  to  the  fingers  a  character- 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  65 

istic  sensation  called  the  "feel  of  the  nail."  A  nail  driven  into 
healthy  horn  gives  off  a  distinct  sound  which  the  shoer  soon  learns 
to  recognize.  All  nails  going  properly  must  be  driven  with  con- 
siderable force.  A  nail  driven  ^vith.  slight  resistance,  i.  e.,  "going 
easy,"'  is  either  in  an  old  nail  hole  or  serious  damage  is  being  done 
because  the  nail  is  entering  the  soft  sensitive  structures  of  the  foot 
(pricking). 

Nail  heads  must  be  sunk  in  the  crease  until  they  are  flush  with  the 
ground  surface  of  the  shoe.  If  this  is  not  done,  the  heads  may  project 
unevenly  and  throw  the  foot  off  the  level.  They  will  also  wear 
quickly  and  cause  a  loose  shoe. 

SECURING    THE    SHOE. 

56.  The  shoe  is  placed  upon  the  bearing  surface  of  the  foot  and 
held  firmly  in  position  with  the  left  hand,  back  up.  A  nail  is  placed 
between  the  thumb  and  forefinger  of  the  left  hand,  the  flat  side 
faced  outuard,  and  the  thumb  and  the  fingers  are  then  extended 
along  the  right  side  of  the  shoe  until  the  nail  is  held  squarely  in  the 
center  of  the  most  convenient  nail  hole,  usually  the  third  (the  third 
hole  on  the  left  side  for  a  left-handed  man);  with  a  toe  clip  on  the 
shoe  the  second  nail  hole  is  generally  used.  The  nail  head  is  tapped 
lightly  with  the  driving  hammer.  The  nail  should  be  held  firmly 
to  determine  the  feel,  and  the  thumb  and  forefinger  should  not  be 
removed  until  the  nail,  going  soundly,  needs  no  further  guidance. 
The  shoe  is  then  grasped  more  firmly  and  the  nail  is  driven  with 
slightly  increased  force.  The  fingers,  placed  on  the  wall  of  the  foot, 
determine  the  exact  location  at  which  the  nail  emerges. 

With  the  claw  of  the  hammer  the  point  of  the  nail  is  then  bent 
upward  until  it  stands  at  a  right  angle  to  the  wall.  Next,  the  head 
of  the  hammer  is  grasped  in  the  hand  and  the  claw  is  pushed  firmly 
downward,  clutching  the  nail  point.  A  half  turn  downward  and  a 
slight  pull  wrings  the  point  off  close  to  the  wall,  leaving  enough  nail 
to  form  the  clinch.  In  wringing  off  nails  the  hammer  is  held  in  the 
hand  nearest  the  nail  point. 

As  the  first  nail  when  driven  may  cause  the  shoe  to  shift,  it  is 
essential  to  place  it  exactly  in  the  center  of  the  nail  hole.  If  the 
shoe  has  altered  its  position  on  the  foot  a  pressure  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  shoe  by  the  palm  of  the  hand  and  a  few  light  blows  of  the 
hammer  on  the  lower  border  of  the  wall  where  the  first  nail  is  driven 
will  move  the  shoe  back  to  place. 

17722°— 17— 5 


66  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

The  second  nail  should  be  driven  on  the  side  opposite  to  the  first 
nail.  When  these  two  nails  have  been  driven  the  foot  should  be 
allowed  to  rest  upon  the  floor,  and  the  foot  and  shoe  should  be  care- 
fully examined  from  all  sides.  Is  the  position  of  the  nails  correct? 
Is  the  foot  axis  correct?  Does  the  shoe  fit  properly?  Is  its  length 
correct?  Does  the  horse  stand  evenly  upon  the  ground  surface  of 
the  shoe?  The  sheer  should  not  resume  his  task  until  he  is  satisfied 
in  all  particulars.  If  any  irregularities  exist  this  is  the  time  for 
correction.  When  the  shoe  has  been  properly  set  drive  the  remain- 
ing nails,  the  fourth  nails  on  either  side  being  driven  first.  As  each 
is  driven  the  point  is  promptly  wrung  of.  When  all  the  nails  have 
been  driven  the  heads  are  forcibly  hammered  well  into  the  crease, 
securing  the  shoe  evenly  upon  the  foot. 


The  clinching  block  is  then  placed  under  a  nail  point.  AVhen  the 
driving  hammer  strikes  the  nail  on  the  head  the  nail  point  is  turned 
upward  and  the  clinch  is  formed. 

After  all  the  clinches  have  been  formed  the  foot  is  brought  forward 
upon  the  knees.  (See  PI.  XII,  fig  3,  for  front  foot,  and  accompa- 
nying figure  for  hind  foot.)  With  the  rasp  the  clinches  are  made  of 
equal  length,  being  in  length  about  the  width  of  the  nail  at  this 
point.  The  end  of  the  nail  is  brought  to  a  thin  edge  by  filing  off 
the  corner  on  the  underneath  side  and  thus  forming  a  short  bevel 
which, assists  in  making  the  clinch  smooth  with  the  wall.  A  slight 
groove  is  made  in  the  wall  under  each  clinch.  With  the  clinching 
block  held  firmly  under  each  nail  head  in  turn,  the  clinch  is  bent 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  67 

down  and  hammered  in  with  the  dri\dng  hammer.  It  is  well  to 
clinch  the  inside  of  the  foot  first,  thus  removing  danger  of  the  iip- 
tm'ned  clinches  tearing  the  opposite  leg.  Finally,  "the  smooth  side 
of  the  rasp  is  run  lightly  over  each  clinch  to  take  off  the  rough  edges 
that  would  pick  up  bedding  or  other  material.  Much  filing  of  the 
clinches  weakens  them  and  results  in  a  cast  shoe.  AMien  finished 
the  clinch  should  be  a  trifle  longer  than  the  width  of  the  nail  at  the 
point  where  it  comes  out  of  the  wall. 

The  outside  wall  of  the  foot  is  never  rasped  (par.  46). 

The  toe  clip  should  be  hammered  back  against  the  wall  of  the 
toe  after  the  inside  has  been  clinched  on  the  off  feet  and  the  outside 
on  the  near  feet.  In  other  words,  hammer  back  the  toe  clip  when 
.the  right  arm  is  free.  » 

After  the  shoeing  has  been  completed  the  foot  is  again  allowed 
to  rest  upon  the  ground,  and  again  carefully  examined  from  all 
sides. 

Plate  XYIII  shows  .the  near  forefoot  of  a  newly  purchased  Cavalry 
horse.  The  shoe,  as  may  be  seen,  has  been  on  for  about  three 
months,  and  the  foot  is  broken  back.  The  lack  of  symmetry  at 
the  heels  shows  that  the  shoe  was  probably  not  correctly  fitted, 
and  that  it  certainly  was  not  in  proper  position  when  nailed  on. 

The  shoer,  having  learned  to  fit  normal  shoes,  is  prepared  to 
take  up  the  study  of  shoeing  to  correct  faults  in  gaits  and  shoeing 
as  an  aid  in  the  treatment  of  diseased  feet. 

tXSPECtlON    OF   SHOEING 

57.  The  horses  shod  during  the  day  should  be  ready  for  inspec- 
tion at  afternoon  stables,  or  other  convenient  time,  in  the  shop  or 
stable,  with  their  feet  cleaned. 

The  horse  should  be  examined  on  a  level  floor,  as  otherwise  it  is 
impossible  to  determine  whether  he  is  standing  correctly  or  not. 

The  following  examination  shoidd  be  made  while  the  foot  is 
on  the  ground : 

(a)  Pastern  and  foot  axes. — View  the  foot  from  the  front  and 
side  to  determine  whether  the  axes  are  correct.     (PL  XIV.) 

(h)  The  fit  of  the  outline  of  the  shoe. — Does  it  correctly  follow  the 
outline  of  the  wall  to  the  last  nail  hole,  and  from  there  extend  out- 
ward, allowing  proper  space  for  expansion?  (Par.  53.)  Note 
particularly  whether  the  wall  has  been  rasped  to  fit  the  shoe.  (Par, 
43.) 


Plate  XVIII.— Foot  Improperly  Shod  and  Neglected. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  69 

(c)  The  toe  clip. — Is  it  in  the  center?  Is  it  of  sufficient  strength, 
height,  properly  finished  and  seated?     (Pars.  48  and  53.) 

{d)  The  nails. — Are  they  evenly  driven,  the  proper  height  and 
distance  apart?  Have  any  old  nail  stubs  been  left  in  the  wall? 
(Pars.  55  and  56.) 

(e)  The  clinches. — Are  they  of  proper  size?  Are  they  well  turned 
and  set  in?  Are  they  smoothed  off  and  not  rasped  sufficiently 
to  weaken  them?     (Par.  56.) 

The  foot  should  then  be  raised  and  the  examination  continued 
in  the  following  manner : 

(a)  The  shoe. — Is  it  the  proper  size  and  weight?  The  last  nail  hole 
not  farther  back  than  the  bend  of  the  quarter?     (Par.  50.) 

(6)  The  preparation  of  the  foot. — Has  enough  horn  been  removed? 
Has  too  much  been  removed?  (Par.  42.)  Is  the  foot  level?  (Par. 
45.) 

(c)  Bearing  surface  of  the  foot. — Does  the  shoe  rest  evenly  on  the 
wall,  covering  the  buttress  and  showing  no  air  spaces  at  any  point? 
(Par.  53.) 

(d)  Concaving  of  the  shoe. — Is  the  shoe  properly  concaved?  Xo 
sole  pressure  at  any  point?     (Par.  53.) 

(e)  Use  of  the  knife. — Has  the  knife  been  used  on  the  bars,  sole, 
or  frog?     (Par.  42.) 

(/)  The  nails. — Are  they  well  seated  in  the  crease?  Are  they  the 
correct  size?    Are  they  all  of  the  same  size?    (Pars.  55  and  56.) 

(g)  The  heels  of  the  ^shoe. — Are  they  the  correct  width  and  thick- 
ness, properly  rounded,  without  sharp  edges  or  points?  Is  their- 
length  even  with  the  bulb  of  the  frog?     (Pars.  14  and  53.) 

In  cases  where  animals  have  been  shod  with  calk  shoes  the  fol- 
lowing should  also  be  noted : 

(a)  Toe  calh. —  Is  it  properly  secured  and  of  proper  height  and 
length? 

(b)  Heel  call. — Are  they  of  the  same  height  as  the  toe  calks? 
Are  they  properly  turned  and  finished? 

After  becoming  accustomed  to  making  the  daily  inspection,  the 
time  necessary  should  not  exceed  five  minutes  for  each  horse. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

GAITS— SHOEING  TO  CONFIRM  OR  ALTER  SAME— FAULTS 
IN  GAITS— SHOEING  TO  CORRECT  SAME— THE  MAKING 
OF  SPECIAL  SHOES  FOR  GAITS. 

58.  In  shoeing  horses  for  the  purpose  of  confirming  or  altering 
gaits,  it  must  be  remembered  that  there  are  almost  a^  many  varia- 
tions in  gaits  as  there  are  horses,  and  that  methods  which  are  suit- 
able in  one  case  may  be  unsatisfactory  in  another.  There  are  cer- 
tain imj^ortant  principles  which,  properly  applied,  \\-ill  be  of 
material  assistance  in  gaiting  the  majority  of  horses.  Shoeing  alone 
will  not  always  accomplish  the  de-ired  end,  but  it  always  helps. 
To  shoe  a  horse  so  that  he  will  be  properly  balanced  and  will  travel 
squarely  requires  skill,  patience,  and  careful  use  of  special  shoes. 
^Yhere  weight  is  used,  it  is  always  best  to  start  with  a  small  amount 
of  weight  and  gradually  increase  it  until  the  desired  result  is  accom- 
plished; otherwise  injuries  may  result  from  overtaxed,  strained,  or 
ruptured  ligaments. 

When  all  four  feet  have  been  shod,  the  animal  h  taken  out  and 
again  examined  on  level  ground  at  a  walk,  trot,  and  gallop. 

The  horseshoer  must  bear  in  mind  that  seldom  wdll  shoeing  alone 
produce  the  de'^ired  gait  or  action,  but  that  much  depends  on  proper 
riding  and  on  the  physical  condition  of  the  horse. 

In  all  cases  of  shoeing  to  prevent  injury  to  a  leg  or  foot  by  another, 
if,  with  careful  riding,  moderate  correction  methods  in  shoeing  do 
not  accomplish  the  desired  results,  shoe  normally  and  use  boots  to 
protect  pirts  liable  to  injury. 

The  use  of  boots  or  bandages  will  render  IjIows  of  one  foot  against 
another  foot  or  leg  painles-^,  give  the  horse  confidence,  and  ii  the 
blows  are  mild,  with  the  use  of  boots  they  will  only  slightly  affect 
his  gait. 

59.  The  gaits  in  the  Army  are  the  walk,  the  trot,  and  the  gallop. 

THE    WALK. 

60.  At  the  walk  the  horse  lifts  one  foot  at  a  time,  in  diagonal 
sequence,  as,  left  front  foot  followed  by  right  hind  foot,  and  plants 
them  in  the  same  order. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  71 

THE    TROT. 

61.  The  trot  is  a  diagonal  movement,  in  which  two  feet  leave 
the  ground  and  again  strike  the  ground  at  the  same  time,  as,  the 
left  front  foot  and  the  right  hind  foot.  If  the  horse  shows  a  tendency 
to  single  foot,  the  toe-height  shoe  in  front  (PL  XX,  fig.  2)  is  often 
of  benefit.  The  tee  weight  increases  the  length  of  the  stride  and 
give?  a  long,  reaching  swing  to  the  front  feet.  After  the  horse  trots 
steadily  the  toe  weight  may  be  gradually  decreased  and  finally 
abandoned. 

THE    GALLOP. 

63.  The  gallop  is  a  gait  in  which  the  horse  springs  into  the  air 
from  one  front  foot  and  has  all  four  feet  off  the  ground  at  once.  The 
diagonal  hind  foot  is  the  first  to  strike  the  ground,  then  the  other 
hind  foot,  next  the  front  foot  opposite  the  one  from  which  the  spring 
was  made,  and  last  the  foot  used  for  the  spring. 

Animals  that  are  so  frequently  used  at  the  gallop  as  Army  horses 
should  carry  as  light  a  shoe  as  practicable. 

THE    PACE. 

63.  The  pace  is  a  lateral  movement — that  is  to  say,  a  movement 
in  which  two  feet  on  the  same  side  leave  and  strike  the  ground  at 
the  same  time.  If  a  horse  shows  a  tendency  to  pace,  it  is  often  of 
benefit  to  shoe  the  front  feet  -with  a  medium-weight  shoe,  well  rolled 
at  the  toe,  or  a  roller-motion  shoe  (PL  XIX,  fig.  3).  A  confirmed 
pacer  can  very  rarely  be  converted  to  the  trot  by  shoeing  alone,  it 
being  generally  necessary  to  use  hobbles,  uniting  diagonally  a  front 
leg  and  a  hind  leg.  The  pacer  should  have  no  place  in  the  service, 
but,  if  present,  should  be  shod  with  a  normal  shoe. 

THE    SIXGLE-FOOT. 

64.  The  single-foot  is  an  irregular  gait  in  which  the  front  feet 
move  in  the  order  of  a  slow  trot  and  the  hind  feet  at  a  fast  walk. 
Each  foot  strikes  the  ground  singly.  The  action  of  the  front. feet  is 
high,  and  there  is  a  lateral  saving  to  the  hind  feet. 

To  convert  a  single-footer  into  a  trotter,  ilse  heavy  toe-weight 
shoes  in  front  and  ride  the  horse  with  a  loose  rein  and  an  easy  bit 
up  a  gentle  slope.    Just  as  the  horse  increases  the  gait  from  the 


72  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

walk,  the  rider  should  seize  one  of  his  ears.  It  is  found  in  practice 
that  this  plan  distracts  his  attention  and  allows  the  weighted  shoes 
to  produce  the  effect  intended.  Whenever  the  horse  returns  to  the 
single-foot,  he  should  be  brought  down  to  the  walk  and  started  again 
with  the  grasp  on  the  ear.  This  method  may  sometimes  be  found 
of  use,  but,  like  the  pacer,  the  aingle-foot  horse  should  have  no  place 
in  the  service. 

65.  When  a  horse  has  been  shod  to  improve  his  gait,  he  should 
be  ridden  with  the  snaffle  bit,  which  admits  of  greater  freedom  of 
movement.  The  reins  should  be  held  with  a  light  hand,  and  the 
horse  should  be  forced  up  against  the  bit  by  the  use  of  the  legs. 

CORRECTING    FAULTY    ACTION. 

66.  It  is  a  well-estabhshed  rule  in  shoeing  that,  in  order  to  cor- 
rect faults  in  gaits,  the  sheer  should  proceed  gradually  from  one 
extreme  to  the  other. 

FORGING. 

67.  Forging,  or  clicking,  is  a  fault  in  gait  at  the  trot,  the  toe  of 
the  hind  foot  overtaking  and  striking  the  bottom  of  the  forefoot. 

Causes. — Faulty  conformation;  horses  with  short  bodies  and 
relatively  long  legs;  horses  with  the  front  or  hind  feet  set  too  far 
under  the  body.  Leg  weariness,  a  condition  caused  by  debility 
or  overexertion.  Improper  preparation  or  shoeing  that  tends  to 
slow  the  action  of  the  front  feet,  as  feet  with  toe  too  long  or  heels  too 
low;  shoes  too  long  or  too  heavy.  Preparation  or  shoeing  that  tends 
to  increase  the  action  of  the  hind  feet,  as  feet  with  toes  too  .short  or 
heels  too  high;  shoes  with  heel  calks  and  no  toe  calk.  Rough  ground 
and  poor  horsemanship;  the  reins  held  too  loosely,  the  horse  not  be- 
ing kept  up  to  the  bit. 

Remedies. — To  correct  this  defect  by  shoeing,  the  object  of  the 
shoer  is  to  quicken  the  action  of  the  front  feet  and  to  slow  the  action 
of  the  hind  feet. 

Three  methods  for  the  correction  of  forging  are  given.  The  first 
method  is  a  mild  corrective  treatment,  while  the  third  is  adopted 
only  as  a  last  resort. 

First  or  mild  method. — For  the  front  feet,  lower  the  toes  and  leave 
the  heels  a  trifle  high.  The  heels  of  the  hind  feet  should  be  lowered 
and  the  toes  left  a  trifle  long.  The  front  shoes  should  be  light  in 
weight;  the  heels  of  the  shoe  fitted  short  so  as  to  just  cover  the  but- 


73 


74  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

tress;  the  toe  of  the  shoe  rolled  to  its  full  extent  (PI.  XIX,  fig.  5), 
to  increase  the  rapidity  with  which  the  foot  breaks  over.  The  hind 
shoes  should  be  a  trifle  heavier  than  the  front  shoes,  and  the  heels 
left  a  trifle  long.  In  order  to  prevent  the  noise  made  by  the  striking 
of  shoe  on  shoe,  should  the  feet  occasionally  meet  in  action,  the  hind 
shoe  should  be  squared  at  the  toe  and  fitted  so  that  about  three- 
quarters  of  the  wall  at  the  toe  projects  over  the  shoe. 

Second  or  medium'  method. — Normal  preparation  of  the  feet. 
Use  a  fairly  heavy  toe- weight  shoe  (PI.  XX,  hg.  2 )  in  front  and  hea^^y 
side- weight  shoes  (Pi.  XX,  fig.  1)  on  the  hind  feet,  the  weight  and 
trailer  being  on  the  outside.  The  effect  of  the  toe  weight  is  to  in- 
crease the  forward  extension  of  the  feet  "with  low  action;  the  side 
weight  and  trailer  on  the  hind  feet  induce  an  outward  swing  of  the 
foot  and  leg,  thus  giving  the  front  feet  more  time  for  breaking  over 
and  getting  out  of  the  way. 

Third  or  ec^treme  method. — Prepare  the  feet  as  explained  for  the 
first  method.  The  front  shoe  (PI.  XIX,  fig.  2)  should  be  light  in 
weight,  fitted  short  at  the  heels,  and  with  short-heel  calks  inclined 
well  to  the  front;  toe  of  the  shoe  thoroughly  rolled.  The  hind  shoe 
(PI.  XIX,  fig.  1)  should  be  heavy  in  weight,  with  a  small  toe  calk 
set  well  back  from  the  front  edge  of  the  shoe;  toe  of  the  shoe  squared; 
heels  long  and  side  clips  between  the  first  and  second  nail  holes. 

The  calks  on  the  front  shoe  raise  the  heels,  thus  diminishing  the 
distance  which  they  muat  be  lifted  by  the  flexor  tendons,  and  con- 
sequently cause  more  rapid  breaking  over.  The  toe  calk  on  the 
hind  shoe  raises  the  toe,  thus  increasing  the  distance  the  heels 
must  be  lifted  by  the  flexor  tendons,  and  consequently  delays  the 
breaking  over  of  the  foot.  The  long  heels  also  increase  the  labor 
of  the  tendons  by  their  extra  weight.  By  using  this  method  the 
feet  are  thrown  so  far  out  of  their  natural  position  that  the  ligaments 
and  tendons  are  apt  to  be  seriously  affected  in  time  by  the  heavy 
strain  placed  upon  them. 

STUMBLING. 

68.  The  horse  stumbles  in  breaking  over,  or  just  after  breaking 
over,  as  a  result  of  not  raising  and  carrying  a  foot  high  enough  to 
clear  the  ground.  Horses  stumble  more  frequently  with  the  front 
than  with  the  hind  feet. 

Causes. — Poor  conformation;  horses  with  light  fore  quarters  and 
heavy  hind  quarters.  Weakness:  During  convalescence  from  severe 
sickness  or  as  the  result  of  a  strain  of  a  leg  muscle.     Fatigue :  Induced 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  75 

by  long  marches  or  by  drawing  or  carrying  heavy  loads.  Improper 
preparation:  Toe  left  too  long.  Improir^r  shoeing:  Shoes  too  heavy 
or  fitted  too  full  at  the  toe.  Laziness,  particularly  when  going  down 
hill,  rough  ground,  and  poor  horsemanship. 

Remedies. —The  bearing  surface  of  the  foot  must  be  leveled,  the 
toe  shortened,  the  shoe  made  light  in  weight  and  thoroughly  rolled 
at  tlie  toe,  and  the  thickness  of  the  heels  of  the  shoe  slightly  in- 
creased. This  shoe  induces  more  rapid  breaking  over.  The  full 
roller-motion  shoe  (PI.  XIX,  fig.  3)  is  frequently  of  value  in  the 
prevention  of  stumbling,  because  it  not  only  causes  a  rapid  breaking 
over  o'f  the  feet  but  produces  higher  action. 

In  cases  of  stumbling  where  calks  are  necessary  to  prevent  slipping, 
use  heel  calks  and  short  quarter  calks  welded  on  web  of  shoe  between 
first  and  second  nail  holes. 

IXTERFERIXG. 

69.  A  horse  interferes  (strikes')  when  he  is  in  motion  by  striking 
any  part  of  a  limb  with  the  opposite  corresponding  foot.  Since  this 
fault  leaves  evidence  by  rubbing  off  the  hair  and  even  breaking  the 
skin,  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  determine  whether  one  or  both  feet 
need  correction. 

Causes. — Poor  conformation;  fatigue;  faulty  or  neglected  shoeing. 

Horses  with  good  conformation  and  straight,  upright  limbs  will 
not  interfere  if  properly  shod.  Those  that  toe  out  generally  strike, 
because  the  clearance  space  between  the  limbs  is  reduced,  while 
those  that  toe  in  usually  travel  wide.  Straight-limbed  horses 
with  narrow  chests  also  have  a  tendency  to  interfere.  In  order 
to  correct  interfering,  the  sheer  should  study  carefully  the  shoeing, 
the  conformation,  and  the  gait  of  the  horse.  The  first  step  is  to  de- 
termine the  exact  part  of  .the  hoof  that  strikes.  This  may  be  readily 
learned  by  chalking  the  inside  of  the  wail  and  trotting  the  animal 
slowly.  The  chalk  will  be  rubbed  off  from  the  exact  point  of  con- 
tact with  the  opposite  leg. 

Inspect  the  shoeing  for  projecting  clinches  or  ragged  edges  of 
the  hoof,  due  to  neglect.  If  the  shoeing  is  of  recent  date,_  note 
if  the  shoe  is  too  full.  Then  inspect  the  fOot  and  see  if  the  inside 
is  too  low  or  the  outside  is  too  high  (l)roken  in).  This  fault  bends 
the  leg  inward  at  the  fetlock  joint"  starts  the  foot  on  a  curve  instead 
of  a  straight  path,  and  thus  lessens  the  clearance  space  between 
the  leofs. 


Plate  XX.— Weighted  Shoes. 

1.  Side  weight  (outside  hind).  2.  Toe  weight. 

3.  Side  weight  (inside  front). 

Pathological  Shoes. 

4.  Bar  shoe.  5.  Three-quarter.  6.  Tip. 


Plate  XXI.— Extension  Toe. 


78  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Remedies. — If  the  fault  is  in  the  shoeing  or  in  the  preparation 
of  the  foot,  the  remedy  in  either  case  is  apparent.  If  the  horse 
continues  to  interfere  after  the  bearing  surface  has  been  leveled 
and  the  foot  properly  shod,  different  careful  experiments  must  be 
made,  because  tests  show  that  there  is  no  fixed  rule.  A  shoe  that 
will  be  of  benefit  in  one  case  may  be  just  the  reverse  in  another. 

In  general,  prepare  and  shoe  the  foot  in  such  a  way  that  the 
breaking  over  will  l^e  at  tlie  center  of  the  toe.  As  much,  if  not 
more,  is  accomplished  by  skillful  preparation  of  the  feet  than  by 
the  use  of  extraordinary  shoes. 

If  the  foot  breaks  over  on  the  inside  of  the  toe  an  angular  extension 
(about  I  inch;  see  PI.  XXI)  on  the  inside  toe  will  be  beneficial. 
When  the  shoe  is  in  place,  the  part  projecting  beyond  the  wall 
should  not  exceed  that  outside  the  white  line  on  shoe  in  plate. 
The  extension  is  made  by  thinning  and  widening  the  web  of  the 
shoe  at  the  desired  point.  Fit  the  shoe  close  on  outside  from  center 
of  toe  to  quarter,  and  roll  outside  toe  with  the  rasp,  full  on  the 
inside  from  toe  to  second  nail  hole,  and  close  from  there  back, 
sharp  edges  on  the  inside  being  hot  rasped  to  avoid  cutting. 

Ordinarily  the  lightest  part  of  the  foot,  especially  of  the  front 
foot,  is  lifted  first.  For  this  reason  a  side  weight  (PI.  XX,  fig.  3) 
on  the  inside  of  the  fore  foot  will  often  aid  in  correcting  interfering. 
As  previously  stated,  this  will  not  always  produce  the  desired 
result.  On  account  of  differences  in  pastern  action,  the  result  may 
even  be  obtained  by  just  the  opposite— the  Aveight  on  the  outside. 

The  foot  may  be  prepared  with  the  inside  high  (broken  out)  in 
order  to  cause  the  foot  to  break  over  the  outside  the  ^oe  and  to 
increase  the  clearance  space. 

A  small  side  calk  may  be  placed  on  the  inside  of  the  inner  half 
of  the  shoe  immediately  under  the  part  of  the  hoof  that  strikes. 
The  calk  should  conform  to  the  curve  of  the  shoe.  (PI.  XIX,  fig.  4.) 
The  heel  of  the  shoe  should  be  thickened  to  correspond  to  the  height 
of  the  calk. 

It  must  be  understood  that  improper  preparation  of  the  foot  and  the 
use  of  a  side  calk  are  extreme  measures.  They  throw  the  foot  into 
an  unnatural  and  strained  position,  and  therefore  should  not  be  used 
unless  this  discomfort  is  to  be  preferred  to  severe  cutting  of  the  legs. 
As  the  fault  of  interfering  disappears  a  return  to  normal  conditions 
must  be  accomplished. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  79 

If  tile  hind  feet  strike,  the  bearing  surfaces  should  be  leveled  ci 
corrected  as  in  the  case  of  the  front  feet.  A  side  weight  on  the  out- 
side of  the  shoe  (PI.  XX,  fig.  1)  swings  the  foot  outward  sufficiently 
to  correct  the  defect  in  ordinary  cases. 

THE    MAKING    OF    SPECIAL    SHOES   FOR    GAITS. 

70.  The  roller-motion  shoe. — The  full  roller-mot „^ii  shoe  can 
be  made  from  heavy  bar  steel  only,  and  as  this  is  usually  not  obtain- 
able at  Army  posts  the  shoe  is  seldom  used.  It  is  made  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  plate  shoe  and  the  ground  surface  is  then  rounded 
with  the  hammer  from  the  last  nail  hole  on  one  side  to  the  last  naiL 
hole  on  the  other;  the  outside  edge  is  made  very  thin  and  the  inside 
edge  is  left  unchanged.     The  shoe  is  then  finished  with  the  rasp. 

The  service  shoe,  on  account  of  the  crease,  can  be  rounded  only 
at  the  toe.  The  rounded  toe,  however,  will  generally  be  found  to 
accomplish  the  result  desired. 

71.  The  front  forging  shoe.— The  heel  calks  of  this  shoe  are 
turned  as  explained  for  the  calked  shoe  (par.  54)  and  then  bent  well 
forward.  Hold  the  shoe  on  the  face  of  the  anvil,  the  tongs  grasping 
it  at  the  toe,  the  ground  surface  up.  Strike  directly  on  the  calk, 
bringing  the  hammer  to\yard  the  toe.  After  bending  the  calk  for- 
ward, be  careful  to  level  its  ground  surface  so  that  it  will  rest  evenly 
when  the  shoe  is  placed  on  a  flat  surface. 

The  toe  is  rolled  as  explained  for  the  roller-motion  shoe.  (Par. 
70.) 

72.  The  hind  forging  shoe. — This  shoe  is  fitted  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  normal  shoe,  with  the  following  exceptions :  The  toe  is  squared 
and  the  heels  are  cut  off  so  as  to  be  longer  than  in  the  normal  shoe; 
the  toe  clip  is  omitted  and  two  side  cUps  are  drawn. 

73.  The  toe-weight  shoe.— This  shoe  is  made  from  the  issue 
front  shoe.  Heat  the  shoe  to  a  white  heat  and  with  the  hammer  and 
a  cold  chisel  cut  a  line  on  each  half  of  the  ground  surface  of  the  shoe 
halfway  between  the  crease  and  the  inside  edge.  Each  line  ex- 
tends from  the  heel  to  a  point  between  the  first  and  second  nail 
holes,  thence  is  carried  obliquely  to  the  inside  edge.  Begin  the 
work  of  cutting,  however,  near  the  toe;  never^at  the  heels.  The  cut 
should  begin  obliquely  because  a  right-angled  cut  weakens  the  shoe 
at  this  place  and  causes  it  to  break  after  much  wear. 


80  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Reheat  and  cut  until  the  part  inside  of  the  lines  is  entirely  re- 
moved. The  rough  edges  are  finished  with  the  rasp,  and  the  shoe  is 
fitted  in  the  same  manner  as  a  normal  shoe. 

The  cold  chisel  is  tempered  as  explained  for  the  hard  v.  {See 
Tools.) 

74.  The  side-weight  shoe.— This  shoe  is  made  from  the  issue 
front  shoe.  The  process  is  the  same  as  in  the  toe-weight  shoe,  except 
ihat  the  weight  is  removed  from  one-half  only  and  that  the  cut 
begins  at  the  center  of  the  toe. 

In  the  front  shoe  the  heels  are  of  normal  length  and  finished  as  in 
the  service  shoe. 

The  w^eight  may  be  on  the  inside  or  outside  of  a  front  shoe.  No 
fixed  rule  can  be  laid  down  as  to  which  should  be  used;  the  conforma- 
tion of  the  horse  will  decide. 

The  weight  in  the  hind  shoe,  however,  is  always  placed  on  the 
outside,  and  extends  back  toward  the  buttress  as  far  as  possible 
without  covering  the  frog.  The  outside  heel  is  drawn  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  longer  than  the  inside  heel,  and/rovn  the  end  of  the 
buttress  is  turned  outward. 

This  extension  is  called  a  trailer  and  serves  to  increase  the  rotary 
motion  given  by  the  weight. 

75.  The  making  of  a  three-quarter  shoe  needs  no  special  descrip- 
tion. It  is  simply  a  plate  or  service  shoe  with  one  heel  cut  off  at 
any  desired  point  by  the  use  of  the  hardy. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  FOOT— CAUSES,  SYMPTOMS,  TREAT- 
MENT—PATHOLOGICAL SHOEING— THE  MAKING  OF 
PATHOLOGICAL  SHOES. 

76.  Information  in  this  chapter  is  for  the  guidance  of  the  Army 
horseshoer  in  his  capacity  as  an  assistant  to  his  veterinarian.  No 
treatment  herein  prescribed  should  be  attempted  except  when 
directed  by  the  veterinarian  or  organization  commander. 

77.  Pathological  shoeing  is  shoeing  for  the  relief  of  diseased  feet. 
The  bar  shoe  (PI.  XX,  fig.  4)  is  most  commonly  used  because  it 
produces  frog  pressure,  which  increases  blood  circulation  and  thus 
assists  nature's  method  of  building  up  diseased  tissue.  Removing 
pressure  means  trimming  the  bearing  surface  of  the  foot  in  such  a 
way  that  the  shoe  can  not  cause  pressure  upon  diseased  parts. 
(PI.  XXII.) 

THRUSH. 

78.  Thrush  is  a  diseased  condition  of  the  frog,  characterized  by  an 
offensive  discharge  and  a  maceration,  or  softening,  of  the  horn. 

Causes. — Filth  and  moisture,  particularly  when  animals  stand 
in  stables  saturated  with  urine.  It  is  both  a  cause  and  a  result  of 
contracted  feet:  A  cause,  by  reducing  the  size  of  the  frog  and  les- 
sening frog  pressure;  a  result,  because  the  small  frog  of  a  badly 
contracted  foot  is  poor  in  quality  and  has  a  lessened  resistance  to 
disease. 

Symptoms. — At  first  there  is  simply  an  increase  of  moisture  in 
the  cleft  of  the  frog,  accompanied  by  an  offensive  odor.  As  the 
maceration  proceeds  the  discharge  and  odor  become  more  marked, 
the  cleft  deepens,  the  horn  spreads,  becomes  underrun  and  loosened, 
and  the  sensitive  structures  are  exposed.  Lameness  is  usually 
absent  but  it  may  be  severe  in  very  badly  contracted  feet  and  in 
mild  cases  when  the  animal  is  traveling  over  loose  stones. 

Treatment. — Dry  clean  stalls  are  essential.  Pare  away  all  loose 
imderrun  portions  of  horn,  then  dry-clean  the  frog  thoroughly 
Avith  oakum  and  paint  wdth  strong  tincture  of  iodine;  when  the 
iodine  dries  cover  the  frog  ynXh.  a  pine  tar  dressing.  The  astringent 
powders,  such  as  birnit  alum,  three  sulphates  (equal  parts  of  sul- 

17722°— 17 6  81 


82  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

pliate  of  copper,  iron,  and  zinc),  calomel,  etc.,  can  also  be  used.  In 
badly  contracted  feet  shoeing  with  bar  shoes,  leather  pads  and  tar 
and  oakum  is  advisable,  to  restore  the  frog  to  a  healthy  condition. 

CANKER. 

79.  Canker  is  a  chronic  disease  of  the  corium  of  the  frog  and  sole, 
characterized  by  enlargement  and  a  spongy,  vascular  condition. 

Causes. — Eilth  and  moisture,  commonly  resulting  from  neglected 
thrush;  injuries  which  expose  the  soft  structures  and  do  not  receive 
proper  treatment  and  protection. 

Symptoms. — The  diseased  area  is  covered  with  a  foul,  moist, 
cheesy  material,  and  the  villi  are  greatly  enlarged  and  softer  than 
normal.  The  moisture  causes  a  softening  and  loosening  of  the 
normal  horn  at  the  edges  of  the  diseased  area,  which  thus  becomes 
larger,  until  the  entire  frog,  bars,  sole,  and  even  the  wall  may  become 
diseased  and  have  a  general  spongy  appearance  and  bleed  readily. 
Lameness  is  usually  absent. 

Treatment. — First  pare  the  foot  down  thoroughly,  removing  all 
imderrun  horn,  and  give  it  a  good  cleaning  with  a  strong  creolin 
solution.  The  soft,  spongy  material  must  then  be  entirely  removed 
with  the  knife  or  scissors.  Bleeding  is  usually  profuse.  A  pressiue 
dressing  of  cotton  and  oakum  can  be  applied  to  check  the  hemor- 
rhage, and  left  in  place  for  a  couple  of  hours.  It  should  then  be 
removed  and  the  foot  wiped  dry  with  cotton  and  covered  A\T.th  pine 
tar,  which  keeps  moisture  away  and  is  an  antiseptic,  protective 
dressing;  over  this  a  large  mass  of  oakum  should  be  applied  and 
held  firmly  in  place  by  a  foot  bandage.  Place  the  horse  in  a  well 
bedded  stall,  which  is"^  to  be  kept  dry  and  clean.  The  treatment 
should  be  repeated  at  intervals  of  four  or  five  days,  keeping  the  foot 
thoroughly  trimmed  and  applying  large  masses  of  oakum  to  produce 
much  pressure  over  the  diseased  area.  As  the  parts  become  normal 
the  soft,  cheesy  material  becomes  gradually  firmer  and  more  flaky, 
and  the  new  horn  fills  in  from  the  edges  or  from  small  centers  until 
the  entire  area  becomes  covered  with  a  healthy  horny  layer.  The 
following  solution  may  be  used : 

Formalin 1  part. 

50  per  cent  alcohol 9  parts. 

Bichloride  of  mercury 2  drams. 

50  per  cent  alcohol 5  ounces. 

Apply  lightly,  and  when  dry  apply  dressing. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  83 

In  mild  cases  the  animal  may  be  shod  and  kept  at  work,  using  a  bar 
shoe  and  heavy  leather  pad  and  packing  the  foot  tightly  with  tar 
and  oakum.  Mild  cases  readily  yield  to  treatment,  but  severe  cases 
of  long  standing  require  a  long  time  to  effect  a  cure. 

BRUISES    OF   THE    SOLE — CORNS. 

80.  These  are  quite  common  and  usually  show  reddish  areas.  A 
coim  is  a  bruise  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  wall  and  bar. 

Causes. — Stepping  on  stones  and"^other  hard  objects;  pressure  of 
shoe  on  sole,  due  to  lowering  the  wall  too  much;  shoes  too  short  or 
left  on  too  long,  in  which  case  the  wall  overgrows  the  heels  of  the 
shoe;  heels  lowered  too  much;  rapid  work  on  hard  roads,  e-sj^ecially 
when  the  feet  are  hard  and  dry,  causing  a  great  amount  of  concussion 
and  subjecting  the  foot  to  injury.  In  the  unshod  foot  the  bar  may 
curl  inward  and  press  upon  the  sole. 

Symptoms.— Lameness  may  or  may  not  be  present.  The  horn 
is  discolored,  and  where  bruises  and  inflammation  are  severe  great 
lameness  is  shown  and  suppuration  may  occur.  When  pus  is  present 
it  burrows  into  the  surrounding  soft  structures,  causing  a  separation 
of  the  horn  and  making  its  exit  at  the  heel  or  around  the  coronet. 
This  usually  greatly  relieves  the  pain  and  lameness. 

Treatment. — Locate  the  seat  of  injury  and  its  probable  cause 
by  removing  the  shoe,  cleaning  the  foot  and  thoroughly  testing  it 
with  the  hoof  tester  or  pincers.  Level  the  foot  if  uneven,  and.  if  no 
lameness  is  present,  reshoe,  first  removing  the  pressure  over  the 
diseased  area  by  trimming  or  lowering  the  horn;  protect  and  soften 
the  horn  by  the  use  of  a  leather  pad.  tar  and  oakum.  If  lameness  is 
present,  reduce  the  inflammation  by  soaking  the  foot  in  cold  water  or 
by  poulticing  it.  This  treatment  usually  gives  prompt  relief.  If 
the  lameness  increases,  pus  is  probably  forming  and  the  underrun 
horn  must  be  removed,  exposing  the  sensitive  structures  and  pro- 
viding for  perfect  drainage.  Antiseptic  washings  and  dressings 
should  now  be  used,  the  diseased  parts  being  kept  clean  and  pro- 
tected. A  good  treatment  is  carried  out  as  follows:  First  soak  the 
foot  in  a  tub  or  pail  of  creolin  solution  for  a  quarter  to  half  an  hour, 
then  apply  cottcn  saturated  with  tincture  of- iodine  and  cover  with  a 
foot  bandage.  Repeat  dressing  twice  daily,  ^^^len  pus  formation 
ceases  and  lameness  is  no  longer  present,  shoe  with  a  bar  shoe,  after 
removing  all  pressure,  and  apply  a  leather  pad,  tar  and  oakum. 


84  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

INJURIES    OF    CORONET    AND    HEELS    (tREADS). 

81.  These  are  caused  by  the  animal  overreaching — ^that  is,  strik- 
ing the  heel  of  the  front  foot  by  the  toe  of  the  hind  foot.  Cavalry 
horses  and  lead  and  swing  artillery  horses  are  likely  to  be  stepped 
upon  by  the  animals  following  when  the  column  is  brought  to  a  sud- 
den stop.  They  are  also  caused  by  the  animal  resting  the  heel  cf 
one  foot  on  the  coronet  of  another,  by  stepping  upon  and  thus  bruising 
or  wounding  the  coronet,  and  by  contact  with  hard  or  sharp  objects. 

Symptoms — Lameness  is  usually  present.  The  skin  is  lacer- 
ated at  the  heel  or  coronet  and  the  parts  are  sensitive.  There  is 
frequently  a  separation  of  the  hard  and  soft  structures.  These 
wounds,  especially  those  at  the  quarter  and  toe,  are  usually  severe 
and  badly  infected,  and  hence  dangerous  because  they  are  so  close 
to  the  important  underlying  structures  (joints,  tendons,  etc.).  They 
require  close  attention. 

Treatment — Remove  all  loosened  portions  of  horn  and  dress  as 
a  wound.     Repeat  twice  daily  and  protect  by  foot  bandage. 

PUNCTURES    OP   THE    FROG    AND    SOLE—PRICKS    IN    SHOEING. 

83.  Causes — Punctui-es  of  the  frog  and  sole  are  caused  by  the 
animal  stepping  on  nails,  glass,  sharp  sticks,  etc.  Pricks  in  shoeing 
are  of  two  kinds: 

(a)  From  the  nails  being  driven  into  the  soft  structures,  causing 
immediate  lameness. 

(6)  From  the  nails  being  driven  too  close,  causing  a  bulging  of  the 
inner  layer  of  horn  and  pressure  on  the  soft  structures.  Lameness 
may  be  in  evidence  at  once,  but  usually  develops  slowly  and  may 
not  appear  for  several  days. 

Symptoms. — Lameness,  more  or  less  severe.  If  the  animal  has 
been  recently  shod  always  suspect  the  nails.  Clean  the  foot  thor- 
oughly and  remove  the  nails  one  at  a  time,  examining  each  nail  for 
moisture.  Test  each  hole  with  the  hoof  tester  or  pincers;  when  the 
sore  spot  is  pressed  the  horse  will  flinch.  If  the  nails  are  all  right 
examine  the  rest  of  foot  thoroughly  in  the  same  manner. 

Treatment. — ^Whether  an  old  or  recent  wound,  trim  the  horn 
from  about  it  to  establish  drainage,  clean  the  wound  thoroughly 
with  a  strong  antiseptic  solution  and  apply  an  antiseptic  dressing. 
This  may  be  applied  as  a  wet  pack,  that  is,  cotton  saturated  with, 
the  antiseptic  or  a  poultice  made  with  a  strong  antiseptic  solution. 
If  the  pus  burrows  under  the  wall  and  escapes  at  the  coronet,  the 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  85 

imderrim  portion  of  the  wall  must  be  removed  to  allow  perfect 
drainage.  Repeat  drainage  twice  daily  imtil  pus  formation  and 
lameness  cease,  when  the  horse  can  be  shod  and  put  to  work,  pro- 
tecting the  foot  with  tar  and  oakum  and  a  leather  pad.  •  In  all  punc- 
tured wounds  of  the  foot  there  is  danger  from  infection  with  the 
germs  of  tetanus,  or  lockjaw,  which  is  usually  present  in  the  soil. 

QUITTOR. 

83.  A  quittor  is  a  diseased  condition  of  the  lateral  cartilage  or 
other  deep-seated  structures  of  the  foot,  with  the  formation  of  sinuses 
(tubes). 

Causes. — Suppurating  corns,  punctures  of  the  sole,  frog,  or  coro- 
net, in  which  the  cartilage  or  other  tissues  are  injured  primarily,  or 
secondarily  by  the  burrowing  of  pus. 

Symptoms. — Swelling  of  the  coronet,  with  one  or  more  openings 
(sinuses),  which  communicate  with  the  diseased  area  and  discharge 
pus.  Marked  lameness  is  usally  present.  Lameness  and  pus  forma- 
tion are  increased  by  exercise. 

Treatment. — Provide  for  perfect  drainage  by  removing  all 
underrun  horn,  trimming  away  dead  tissues,  etc.;  treat  with  anti- 
septic foot  baths  and  apply  wet  antiseptic  dressings.  The  sinuses 
may  be  injected  with  strong  tincture  of  iodine  and  a  wet  pack  of 
one  one-thousandth  solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury  (one  tablet  to 
a  quart  of  water)  be  applied.  Repeat  dressing  twice'daily.  Perfect 
rest  is  essential.  If  this  does  not  effect  a  cure  an  operation  will  be 
necessary. 

QUARTER  AND  TOE  CRACKS  (SAND  CRACKS). 

84.  A  quarter  crack  is  a  split  in  the  horn  of  the  wall  at  the  quarter! 
a  toe  crack  is  a  split  at  the  toe.  Cracks  which  affect  only  the  upper 
border  of  the  hoof  are  called  coronary  cracks;  those  affecting  the  lower 
border  of  the  hoof  are  called  low  cracks,  while  those  extending  from 
one  border  to  the  other  are  called  complete  cracks.  Horses  that  have 
weak  quarters  are  predisposed  to  it,  also  those  with  brittle  horn. 

Causes. — Excessive  dryness  of  the  hoof,  causing  brittleness; 
lack  of  frog  pressure;  contraction;  long  toes;  heavy  shoes;  large  nails 
and  nails  set  too  far  back.  Those  cracks  which  start  at  the  bottom, 
usually  due  to  shoeing,  are  of  little  importance.  Those  which  start 
at  the  coronet  are  usually  troublesome,  especially  when  conformation 
and  feet  are  faulty. 


86  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Symptoms. — A  fissure  in  the  wall  at  toe  or  quarter.  The  fissure 
may  be  shallow  and  not  cause  lameness,  or  it  may  be  a  deep  one 
which  extends  through  the  thickness  of  the  wall  and,  owing  to 
pinching  of  the  sensitive  laminae,  causes  lameness,  frequently  with 
extensive  laceration  and  hemorrhage. 

Treatment. — First  remove  the  shoe  and  soften  the  horn  and  re- 
duce the  inflammation  by  cold  foot  baths  or  poultices.  Then  cut 
away  the  hard  overlapping  edges  of  the  horn  to  prevent  the  pinching 
of  the  laminae.  Shorten  the  toe.  lower  the  wall,  and  trim  away  the 
bearing  surface  of  the  wall  so  that  it  does  not  rest  on  the  shoe  for  half 
an  inch  to  an  inch  on  each  side  of  the  crack  (PL  XXII).  Apply 
a  bar  shoe,  providing  considerable  frog  pressure,  and  keep  the  foot 
soft  and  elastic  by  applying  tar,  oakum  and  a  leather  pad.  Keep  the 
wall  surface  soft,  especially  over  the  crack,  by  daily  applications  oi 
pine  tar  or  an  oil.  Blisters  to  the  coronet  are  beneficial  by  stimulating 
the  growth  of  horn.  A  run  at  grass,  barefooted,  for  two  or  three 
months  is  decidedly  beneficial. 

In  case  of  toe  crack  the  operation  is  the  same.  In  shoeing,  the 
wall  is  cut  away  at  the  toe  to  prevent  pressure.  A  bar  shoe,  rolled 
at  the  toe  and  with  a  clip  on  each  side  of  the  crack,  is  recom.mended. 
The  bar  shoe  serves  two  purposes: 

1.  Ordinarily  it  is  not  possible  to  drive  the  proper  number  of  nails 
on  the  side  of  the  affected  quarter,  but  the  bar  keeps  the  shoe  in 
place  on  account  of  the  firm  nailing  on  the  other  side. 

2.  The  bar  gives  trog  pressure  and  expansion,  which  are  desirable 
because  quarter  cracks  usually  result  from  a  weak  and  drawn-in 
quarter. 

FALSE    QUARTKR. 

85.  This  term  is  given  to  a  faulty  condition  of  the  hoof  in  which 
the  horn  is  thin  and  weak,  and  extends  Irom  the  coronet  to  the  ground 
surface  of  the  wall. 

Causes. — Most  commonly  caused  by  barbed  wire  cutting  into 
and  destroying  the  horn  secreting  layer  ol  the  coronary  band. 

Symptoms. — The  horn  of  the  affected  part  is  usually  concave, 
rough  and  scaly  in  appearance,  and  is  much  thinner  than  the  adjacent 
healthy  parts  of  the  wall.  Owing  to  the  weakened  condition  of  the 
wall,  cracks  may  appear  when  the  horn  becomes  hard  and  dry  and 
cause  lameness. 

Treatment. — This  is  confined  to  protection  of  the  weakened 
area  by  the  use  of  the  bar  shoe,  remo\  al  of  pressure,  and  keeping  the 


Plate  XXII.— Quarter  Crack. 
Before  and  after  treatment  and  shoeinsr. 


88  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

foot  soft  and  elastic,  preferably  by  the  use  ol  tar,  oakum,  aiul  leather 
pad.  Should  a  crack  appear  and  lameness  result,  treat  as  directed 
under  quarter  crack. 

LAMINITIS. 

86.  Laminitis,  or  founder,  is  an  inflammation  of  the  sensitive 
laminar  corium,  usually  of  the  front  feet,  and  may  involve  the 
adjoining  structures.  The  pain  is  very  acute,  because  the  swollen 
laminae  lie  between  two  hard  surfaces  (the  coffin  bone  and  the  wall) 
and  are  pinched  by  them.  There  are  three  forms:  Acute,  with  pro- 
nounced symptoms;  subacute,  in  which  the  symptoms  are  mild,  and 
chronic,  resulting  from  the  acute,  mth  structural  change  of  the  feet 
and  chronic  lameness. 

Causes. — These  are  many  and  varied.  Concussion,  chilling  of 
the  body  from  standing  in  a  breeze  while  overheated,  chinking  large 
amounts  of  cold  water  after  severe  exertion  and  while  in  an  exhausted 
or  overheated  condition,  grains  eaten  to  excess,  and  improper  food- 
stuffs such  as  musty  hay  and  grain,  wheat  and  new^  oats,  green  foods 
such  as  alfalfa,  clover  and  corn  eaten  to  excess. 

Symptoms. — In  the  acute  form  all  four  feet  may  be  affected, 
but  the  disease  is  usually  limited  to  the  front  feet.  The  animal 
stands  in  a  fixed  position  With  the  front  legs  advanced,  the  weight 
being  carried  on  the  heels;  the  pain  is  greatest  at  the  toe  because  the 
laminae  are  largest  and  most  vascular  at  that  place;  the  hind  legs  are 
advanced  under  the  body  to  relieve  the  forefeet  of  weight.  Occa- 
sionally the  animal  sways  backward,  elevating  the  toes  to  fiu:ther 
relieve  them  of  weight  and  reduce  the  pain.  He  is  moved  with 
difficulty  because  the  movement  increases  the  pressure  and  pain  in 
the  feet  which  remain  on  the  ground.  The  feet  are  hot,  and  the  ar- 
teries of  the  cannon  and  pastern  have  a  distinct  throb.  The  animal 
groans  with  pain  and  sweats  profusely.  The  pulse  is  full,  strong  and 
rapid,  beating  60  to  80  per  minute.  Constipation  or  diarrhea  may 
be  present.  Temperature  lOi"^  to  106°.  In  some  cases  the  animal 
stands  persistently;  in  others  he  may  lie  for  hours  at  a  time. 

Treatment. — Subacute  laminitis.  This  form  may  be  conveniently 
treated  in  the  field  by  standing  the  animal  in  a  pool  of  water,  prefer- 
ably in  a  running  stream,  and  removing  the  shoes  if  the  command 
is  stationary;  in  garrison  by  remo\ing  the  shoes  and  standing  the 
animal  in  a  soaking  stall,  wet  clay,  or  water  hole.  Feed  laxative 
diet  and  give  potassium  nitrate. 


MANUAL   FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  89 

Acute  laminitis. — Place  the  animal  in  a  well  bedded  box  stall;  if 
in  the  field,  in  a  soft,  grassy,  shady  spot  if  possible.  If  he  does  not 
lie  down  throw  him.  This  affords  great  relief  by  resting  the  feet 
and  reduces  the  pain  and  inflammation.  After  once  experiencing 
the  great  relief  afforded  by  lying,  the  aniinal  will  then  usually  lie 
of  his  own  accord.  Remove  the  shoes.  Give  a  laxative  of  1  or  2 
pints  raw  linseed  oil,  and  give  potassium  nitrate  in  1  to  2  ounce  doses 
three  times  a  day.  Apply  cold  wet  packs  to  the  feet  and  legs  as 
high  as  the  knees  and  keep  them  wet.  Feed  laxative  diet.  As 
soon  as  the  pain  has  diminished  moderate  exercise  is  beneficial. 
This  may  be  gradually  increased  as  the  animal  improves.  If  re- 
covery is  not  marked  after  fi^e  or  six  days  apply  a  bar  shoe  with  a 
wide  web.  well  rolled  at  the  toe  and  concaved,  and  then  a  blister 
of  cantharides  around  the  coronet;  repeat  the  blister  if  necessary. 
Use  no  toe  clips. 

Chronic  laminitis  is  permanent  laminitis  resulting  from  one  or 
more  attacks  of  the  acute  form  of  the  disease.  In  the  chronic  form 
there  is  always  inflammation,  sometimes  more,  sometimes  less,  but 
never  as  severe  as  in  the  acute  form.  Lam.initis  frequently  produces 
great  structtiral  changes  in  the  feet,  due  to  loosening  of  the  union 
between  the  horny  and  sensitive  laminae,  and  a  rotation  backward 
of  the  pedal  bone  due  to  increased  tension  on  the  flexor  tendon. 
These  changes  consist  of  dropped  sole,  increased  height  of  the  foot 
at  the  quarters  and  heels,  seedy  toe,  and  a  chronic  type  of  inflamma- 
tion as  noted  above.  When  such  changes  result  the  usefulness  of 
the  animal  is  greatly  lessened,  but  by  careful  shoeing  he  is  able 
to  do  slow  work  satisfactorily. 

In  a  case  of  chronic  laminitis,  pay  special  care  to  the  concaving 
and  use  a  bar  shoe  rolled  both  at  the  toe  and  at  the  heel;  this  is  a 
modified  form  of  the  rorl-rr-motion  shoe.  This  shoe  produces  a 
uniformly  smooth  breaking  over,  without  much  jar. 

SEEDY    TOE. 

87.  Seedy  toe  is  a  mealy  condition  of  the  horn  of  the  wall,  most 
commonly  in  the  region  of  the  toe. 

Causes. — Most  commonly  the  result  of.  generalized  laminitis 
with  structural  changes  in  the  feet;  localized  laminitis  caused  by 
nail  pricks  in  shoeing  and  stepping  on  sharp  objects;  injuries  to 
the  wall  from  blows;  pressure  from  heavy,  deep-seated  clips;  deep 
hoof  branding  with  irons  insufficiently  heated;  excessii-e  moisttire, 
causing  disintegration  (crtimbling)  of  the  horn  fibers. 


90  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Symptoms. — A  soft,  flaky  condition  of  the  horn,  lameness  usually 
being  absent.  If  there  is  marked  crumbling  of  the  horn  with  the 
formation  of  a  cavity  between  tlie  horny  and  sensitive  laminae, 
lameness  may  result  from  injury  to  the  sensitive  structures  by  dirt, 
and  infecti(m  and  pus  formation  may  occur. 

Treatment. — Remove  the  unsound  horn,  clean  the  cavity,  pro- 
tect the  foot  by  means  of  a  leather  pad  and  apply  a  dressing  of  tar 
and  oakum.  IJse  a  bar  slioe,  well  rolled  at  the  toe;  no  nails  should 
l)e  driven  in  the  diseased  part,  but.  instead,  side  clips  should  be 
used,  care  being  exercised  that'  they  bear  only  on  the  healthy  horn. 
Stimulate  the  growth  of  horn  by  applying  a  blister  of  cantharides 
or  mercury  to  the  coronet. 

NAVICULAR    DISEASE. 

88.  Navicular  disease  is  a  chronic  inflammation  at  the  point  where 
the  tendon  of  the  deep  digital  flexor  passes  over  the  navicular  bone. 

Causes. — Faulty  conformation,  in  which  the  limb  is  placed 
under  the  body  and  carries  excessive  weight;  faulty  conformation 
of  the  feet  in  which  the  heels  are  high  and  narrow,  resulting  in  ex- 
cessive concussion;  long  toes,  in  which  the  strain  on  the  deep  flexor 
tendon  is  increased;  standing  on  inclined  surfaces,  such  as  stalls 
and  picket  lines  with  an  upward  slo]>e,  thus  increasing  the  strain. 
It  invaria])ly  affects  the  front  feet  because  the  weight  upon  them  is 
greater  than  on  the  hind  feet. 

Symptoms.^-Lameness,  which  is  slight  at  first,  but  gradually 
increases  in  severity.  While  traveling"  the  affected  leg  takes  a 
shorter  step  and  the  toe  strikes  the  ground  before  the  heel  comes 
down.  In  some  cases  the  lameness  may  disappear  for  a  day  or  two. 
When  resting,  the  animal  points  the  toe,  and  if  lame  in  both  feet 
the  limbs  are  advanced  and  the  feet  rested  alternately.  If  kept  in 
a  stall  with  a  soft  floor  a  hole  is  usually  dug  and  the  animal  stands 
with  the  toes  in  the  hole,  the  heels  resting  on  the  edge.  This  greatly 
relieves  the  strain  on  the  diseased  area.  As  a  result  of  the  constant 
standing  on  the  toes  the  frogs  atropliy  (waste  away)  and  the  heels 
contract  and  the  wall  at  the  heels  becomes  higher  than  normal. 
Pressure  o\er  the  navicular  area  with  the  hoof  tester  or  pincers 
causes  marked  pain.     Bar  shoes  also  greatly  increase  the  lameness. 

Treatment.— The  disease  is  incurable,  and  treatment  merely 
serves  to  diminish  the  effects,  though  in  the  first  stages  treatment 
may  be  beneficial.  The  inflammation  should  be  reduced  by  means 
of  cold  foot  baths  and  poultices,  followed  by  the  application  of 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  91 

blisters  around  the  coronet,  after  which  the  animal  should  be  turned 
out  on  soft  ground  for  several  months.  When  necessary  to  use  the 
animal  the  toes  should  be  well  shortened  and  shoes  with  thickened 
heels  or  heel  calks  applied.  Keep  the  feet  soft  by  the  use  of  foot 
baths,  poultices,  or  the  application  of  a  leather  pact,  tar,  and  oakum. 

SIDEBONES. 

89.  Sidebone  is  an  ossification  (turning  into  bone)  of  the  lateral 
cartilage,  frequently  resulting  from  improper  leveling  of  the  foot. 
Horses  with  flat  feet  and  weak  quarters  are  predisposed  to  this 
disease. 

Causes. — This  disease  is  common  in  heavy  animals  working  on 
hard  pavements  and  is  due  to  concussion;  improper  preparation  of 
the  foot  in  shoeing,  one  side  (usually  the  outside)  being  left  higher 
than  the  other,  thus  increasing  the  concussion  on  the  lateral  carti- 
lage on  the  high  side;  injuries  to  the  region  of  the  quarter  and  heels 
by  treads,  wire  cuts,  etc. 

Symptoms. — A  hard  unyielding  condition  of  the  lateral  cartilage, 
with  or  without  lameness.  The  affected  side  of  the  foot  contracts, 
as  a  result  of  lack  of  expansion.  Lameness  is  increased  by  fast  travel 
on  hard  roads  and  by  a  hard,  dry  condition  of  the  hoof. 

Treatment. — If  lameness  is  present,  first  remove  the  shoe  and 
level  the  foot,  then  reduce  the  inflamation  by  cold  foot  baths  and 
poultices,  followed  by  the  application  .of  a  blister  and  a  rest  of  four 
to  six  weeks.  If  lameness  persists  repeat  the  blister  and  rest.  In 
shoeing  an  animal  afflicted  with  sidebones  level  the  foot  carefully. 
If  the  foot  is  aft'ected  on  one  side  only  and  contraction  has  resulted, 
the  web  of  the  shoe  should  be  widened  sufliciently  to  extend  out  to 
where  the  normal  foot  would  be.  A  plain  shoe  with  rolled  toe  is 
recommended.  Frog  pressure  produces  soreness  and  must  be  carefully 
avoided. 

CONTRACTED    FEET. 

90.  Contracted  feet  refers  to  an  unnatural  shrinking  or  narrowing 
of  the  feet  at  the  quarters  and  heels.  It  is  most  frequently  seen  in 
the  front  feet.  The  feet  of  some  horses  are  iiaturally  narrow,  resem- 
bling in  shape  the  feet  of  a  mule. 

Causes. — Lack  of  frog  pressure  is  always  the  primary  cause; 
contri])utory  causes  are,  lack  of  exercise  and  lack  of  moisture,  thrush, 
the  continued  use  of  heel  calks,  concaving  the  bearing  surface  of 
the  shoe  back  to  the  heels,  and  opening  the  heels  with  the  knife. 


92  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Symptoms. — The  fool,  instead  of  being  wide  at  the  quarters 
and  circular  in  shape,  becomes  narrow  at  the  heels,  which  in  very 
bad  cases  may  overlap,  the  frog  atrophies  and  is  frequently  affected 
with  thrush.  Lameness  may  be  present  as  a  result  of  the  pinching 
of  the  sensitive  structures  by  the  walls  of  the  hoof. 

Treatment. — Frog  pressure  is  essential.  If  the  feet  are  ex- 
tremely dry  and  hard  they  may  be  softened  by  standing  the  animal 
in  moist  clay  or  in  water.  If  the  animal  is  to  be  used  on  soft  ground 
let  him  go  barefoot,  or  shoe  with  the  tip  (PL  XX,  fig.  6);  otherwise 
use  the  bar  shoe  with  leather  pad,  tar,  and  oakum,  packing  the 
oakum  very  tight  under  the  frog. 

DRY   FEET. 

91.  This  is  a  troublesome  condition,  occurring  most  frequently  in 
dry  weather. 

Causes. — The  moisture  of  the  foot  normally  comes  from  the  blood, 
and  depends  largely  upon  the  circulation,  and  a  certain  amount  of 
it  comes  by  absorption  from  the  ground.  Shoeing,  by  raising  the 
frog  from  the  ground,  lessens  the  circulation  and  interferes  with 
absorption  of  moisture  from  the  ground .  Sudden  changes  in  weather, 
alternation  from  wet  to  dry,  and  soaking  the  feet  in  water  cause  a 
maceration  of  the  perioplic  covering  and  facilitate  the  evaporation 
of  moisture  from  the  wall.  Working  in  sandy  ground  wears  away 
the  periople  and  facilitates  evaporation,  and  rasping  the  periople 
produces  the  same  condition. 

Symptoms. — A  hard,  dry,  and  inelastic  condition  of  the  horn. 
This  increases  concussion  and  frequently  causes  inflammation  of  the 
foot  corium  and  produces  lameness. 

Treatment. — Soften  the  feet  by  poultices  or  by  foot  baths  and 
then  apply  an  oily  covering  to  the  wall  surface;  or  pack  the  cavity 
between  the  branches  of  the  shoe  with  wet  clay  two  or  three  times  a 
week.  This  is  preferable  to  soaking  in  water  as  it  supplies  moisture 
to  the  foot  and  does  not  macerate  the  periople.  Work  the  animal 
on  soft  ground  as  much  as  possible. 

An  excellent  dressing  for  dry.  brittle,  or  contracted  feet  is  made  of 
the  following: 

Creolin 4  ounces. 

Pine  tar 4  ounces. 

Raw  linseed  oil 1'4  ounces. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  93 

Mix  and  apply  to  both  wall  and  sole  twice  a  week.     When  the 
animal  is  shod  the  foot  should  be  prepared  and  then  a  coating  of  the 
dressing  applied  to  the  sole  before  nailing  on  the  shoe.     At  other 
times  the  dressing  should  be  applied  at  evening  stables. 
Or 

Pine  tar 4  ounces. 

Cosmoline 4  ounces. 

Neat's-foot  oil 24  ounces. 

Melt  together  over  a  slow  fire.  Apply  the  same  as  the  preceding 
dressing. 

A  blister  of  cantharides  around  the  coronet  is  beneficial  by  stimu- 
lating the  growth  of  horn  fibers. 

93.  In  this  chapter  have  been  treated  the  common  foot  ailments 
of  the  Army  horse.  Pathological  shoeing  for  drop  sole  resulting 
from  laminitis,  for  bowed  tendons,  and  for  other  troubles  that  can 
not  be  permanently  cured  has  been  omitted  from  this  textbook. 
The  Army  horse  must  be  ready  for  hard  service.  When  his  feet  are 
incurably  bad  he  should  not  be  nursed,  but  should  be  placed  on  the 
inspection  report. 

THE  MAKING  OP  PATHOLOGICAL  SHOES — THE  BAR  SHOE. 

93.  This  shoe,  as  previously  stated,  is  more  frequently  required 
in  Army  shoeing  than  any  other  special  shoe.     It  is  made  from  the 


issue  shoe,  and  the  general  fit  and  shape  when  finished  are  the  same 
with  the  exception  of  the  bar  across  the  frog. 


94  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Select  an  issue  shoe  that  is  a  size  larger  than  the  one  that  would 
ordinarily  be  used,  and  preferably  a  front  shoe — a  size  larger  in 
order  that  the  heels  shall  be  long  enough  to  admit  of  turning  the 
bar  and  a  front  shoe  on  account  of  its  width  and  stock. 

It  is  advisable  for  the  beginner  to  fit  the  shoe  to  the  outline  of  the 
foot  before  turning  the  heels  for  preparing  the  bar,  as  the  shoe  is 
more  easily  fitted  before  welding  the  bar  and  the  sheer  can  estimate 
the  amount  of  stock  required  for  making  the  bar. 

94.  To  prepare  the  heels  of  the  shoe  before  turning  in  the  bar — 

(a)  Scarfing. — This  is  accomplished  by  holding  the  shoe  on  the 
face  of  the  anvil  (either  surface  on  the  face)  and  striking  on  the 
upper  edge  of  the  extremity  of  the  heel,  the  hammer  held  at  an 
angle  of  about  45°  with  the  plane  of  the  upper  surface.  This  will 
result  in  a  bevel  between  the  upper  and  lower  surfaces  of  the  heel 
al)out  a  half  inch  in  length.  Scarf  the  other  heel  in  the  same  way, 
except  that  the  scarf  is  made  on  the  opposite  surface. 

(b)  Pointing  the  scarf. — To  insure  a  smooth  weld.  This  is 
done  by  holding  each  heel  in  turn  so  that  it  will  rest  at  an  angle 
upon  the  face  of  the  anvil  near  the  heel,  and  striking  on  the  upper 
edge  at  the  end.  This  is  the  same  position  and  accomplishes  the 
same  result  as  pointing  the  heels  of  the  plate  and  service  shoes  after 
drawing  (par.  13). 


This  cut  shows  the  smith  working  on  the  heel  of  the  shoe  farthest 
from  his  hammer  hand,  which  was  done  simply  to  aid  the  photog- 
rapher in  producing  a  photograph  that  would  show  the  angle  of  the 


MANUAL   FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


95 


scarf,  most  distinctly,  while  at  the  same  time  give  a  good  ^'ie^v  <»f 
the  position  of  the  tongs  and  the  hand  holding  same. 

95.  To  turn  in  the  bar. — Hold  the  shoe  with  the  tongs  at  or 
above  the  toe;  place  the  inside  edge  of  the  heel  to  be  turned,  on 


the  point  of  the  horn,  the  quarter  nearly  horizontal,  \\Tith  1  inch  or 
an  inch  and  a  half  projecting  over  the  horn,  depending  upon  the 
length  of  the  bar  required. 


Strike  on  the  upper  edge  of  the  portion  projecting  over  the  horn, 
lowering  the  hand  as  the  bend  progresses,  and  turn  in  the  desired 
length  at  a  right  angle. 


96 


MANUAL   FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


The  length  of  llie  hend  should  be  a  little  more  than  one-half  the 
length  of  the  finished  bar,  as  the  ends  must  overlap  for  welding. 
Tiurn  the  other  heel  in  the  same  manner. 


96.  To  prepare  the  bar  for  welding.— Close  the  shoe  bodily 
until  the  scarfed  points  o\'erlap  and  then  hammer  the  points  down 
until  they  fit  closely,  lea\'ing  no  space  for  coal  dust  to  accumulate. 


97.  To  weld  the  bar. — Place  the  bar  in  the  fire  and  heat  to  a 
welding  heat  (.see  Heats),  tilting  or  rocking  the  shoe  forward  and 
back  to  insure  an  equal  heat  on  both  sides.  When  the  proper  heat 
has  been  obtained  (fluxing),  place  the  bar  on  the  face  of  the  anvil 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  97 

I  and  strike  a  few  light  blows  on  one  point,  then  reverse  the  shoe  and 
fj  strike  on  the  opposite  point.  This  will  bind  the  points  together. 
'  Reheat  the  bar  to  the  welding  heat  and,  taking  the  same  position, 
complete  the  weld  by  hea^der  blows,  reversing  the  shoe  so  that  both 
sides  will  be  flattened.  After  the  weld  is  completed  the  bar  is 
shaped  by  holding  one  corner  on  the  point  of  the  anvil  and  striking 
on  the  center  of  the  bar  and  then  reversing.  This  will  set  the  center 
of  the  bar  forward,  give  it  the  correct  shape  at  the  heels,  and  pre- 
pare it  for  beveling.  The  front  half  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  bar 
must  be  hammered  down  (beveled)  to  the  point,  thus  forming  a 
cradle  for  the  frog. 

98.  Fitting. — The  bar  shoe  is  fitted  as  is  the  service  shoe,  and 
the  same  heats  are  used.  A  little  more  allowance,  however,  is 
made  for  expansion  on  account  of  the  added  frog  pressure. 

99.  To  open  the  toe. — The  shoe  is  heated  throughout  to  an  even 
heat  and  held  upright  with  the  bar  on  the  face  of  the  anvil.     The 


blows  are  struck  along  the  toe,  thus  opening  the  toe  and  quarters 
without  changing  the  bar. 

The  toe  may  be  opened  as  in  the  service  shoe. 

100.  To  widen  the  heels.— By  lengthening  the  bar. 

(a)  When  the  quarters  are  too  long.— Heat  the  bar  and  the 
heels  to  a  cherry  heat.  Hold  the  shoe  in  the  tongs  at  the  toe  and 
place  inside  edge  of  the  heel  on  the  point  of  the  horn,  resting  at 
the  point  from  which  it  is  desired  to  turn  the  heel  into  the  bar. 

17722°— 17 7 


98  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

Strike  on  the  end  of  the  heel  projecting  over  the  horn.    Then  re- 
verse the  shoe  and  proceed  in  the  same  manner  with  the  other  heel. 


(6)  When  quarters  are  of  the  cprrect  length.— Heat  the  bar 

to  a  white  heat  and  draw  it  out  by  working  on  the  face  of  the  anvil. 
This  will  lengthen  the  bar  and  at  the  same  time  reduce  its  thick- 
ness.   After  drawing  out  in  this  manner,  the  bar  must  be  leveled 


with  the  upper  surface  unless  the  frog  is  so  large  that  it  will  produce 
the  desired  pressure.  The  bar  may  also  be  draAvn  on  the  pomt 
of  the  horn,  working  on  one  half  and  then  reversmg;  this  method 
thickens  the  bar  and  should  be  used  if  the  frog  is  very  small. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  99 

101.  To  close  the  heels.— By  shortening  the  bar. 

(a)  When  the    quarters  are  of  the  correct  length.— Heat 

the  bar  and  heels  and,  holding  one  heel  on  the  face  of  the  anAdl, 


shoe    perpendicular,    strike    on    the    elevated    heel.     This    vrill 
shorten  the  bar,  also  narrowing  and  straightening  the  quarters. 


(b)  When  the  quarters  are  too  short.— Place  an  inside  edge 
of  the  triangular  part  of  the  bar  on  the  point  of  the  horn  and  strike 
on  the  part  projecting  over  it.  This  will  turn  part  of  the  bar  into 
the  heel. 


100  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

(c)  When  the  quarters  are  too  long.— Hold  the  shoe  upright, 
The  center  of  the  bar  on  the  point  of  the  anvil,  and  strike  on  the  toe. 


This  will  push  the  bar  toward  the  toe  and  shorten  the  shoe,  bringing 
the  heels  closer  together. 


103.  To  lengthen  the  quarters  without  changing  the  bar. 

Draw  out  the  heels  on  the  horn  of  the  anvil  as  in  the  ser^dce  shoe. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  101 

103.  When  one  quarter  is  longer  than  the  other,  to  brins: 
the  shoe  back  to  its  proper  shape.  Heat  the  shoe  throughout,  and, 
holding  it  upright  with  the  point  of  the  heel  of  the  longer  quarter  on 
the  face  of  the  anvil,  strike  on  the  upper  edge  of  the  shoe  directly 
over  the  point  resting  on  the  anvil. 


104.  Thinning  the  bar  is  often  necessary  in  the  case  of  a  large 
frog.  To  accomplish  this,  the  bar  is  welded  at  about  one-half  the 
required  length  and  then  drawn  out  on  the  face  of  the  anvil,  its 
lower  surface  being  leveled  with  the  ground  surface  of  the  shoe. 

105.  In  the  case  of  an  exceptionally  large  frog,  it  is  necessary 
to  curve  the  bar  below  the  ground  surface  to  allow  sufficient  room 
and  to  prevent  too  much  pressure.  Toe  and  heel  calks  must  be 
used  with  this  shoe  to  insui'e  a  level  ground  siu'face. 


102 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


To  curve  the  bar. — Hold  the  shoe  so  that  one  end  of  the  bur 

rests  on  the  edge  of  the  face  and  the  other  on  the  horn  of  the  an\il 
and  strike  on  the  center  of  the  upper  surface. 


THE  TIP. 

106.  The  use  of  the  tip  for  contracted  heels  leaves  the  foot  in 
more  nearly  a  state  of  nature  than  any  other  shoe,  it  is  sufficient  for 
ordinary  work,  and  is  easily  applied.  It  should  be  thin,  only  thick 
enough  to  hold  the  nails,  and  not  be  flexible.  The  best  tip  can  be 
made  from  an  old  shoe  uniformly  worn,  the  quarters  being  cut  oif 
just  in  front  of  the  fourth  nail  hole.  Using  the  rasp  across  the  toe, 
lower  the  toe  the  desired  amount  as  far  back  as  the  tip  extends. 
The  heels  of  the  tip  should  be  thinned.  If  after  the  tip  is  secured 
in  place  the  walls  back  of  the  tip  extend  below  its  ground  surface, 
they  can  easily  be  lowered  level  with  the  tip  by  use  of  rasp. 

The  tip  may  be  made  from  bar  steel .  In  such  cases  two  nails  on 
a  side  are  sufficient,  the  nail  holes  being  punched  to  correspond  to 
the  first  and  third  nail  holes  of  a  service  shoe. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 
SHOEING  REFRACTORY  HORSES. 

107.  Most  horses  that  can  be  classed  as  refractory  in  shoeing  have 
been  brought  to  this  condition  by  improper  handling  when  green 
and  unaccustomed  to  the  sights  and  sounds  of  a  shoeing  shop. 

"When  a  young  horse  has  been  assigned  to  an  organization,  a  com- 
mon practice  is  to  send  him  at  once  to  the  shop  with  ijistructions 
that  he  be  shod  by  quiet  means  if  possible,  but  by  force  if  necessary. 

No  gi'eater  e\il  exists  in  the  mounted  service.  It  is  as  much 
our  duty  to  gradually  train  a  young  horse  to  submit  to  shoeing 
as  it  is  to  patiently  drill  him  to  sm'render  to  the  bit  and  to  work 
in  the  saddle  or  harness. 

Summary  methods  not  only  ruin  the  horse's  disposition,  but 
subject  the  shoer  to  constant  danger  of  injury. 

108.  Shoeing  young  horses.— The  first  step  should  be  to  teach 
the  young  animal  that  raising  his  feet  will  do  him  no  harm,  and  this 
lesson  should  be  given  at  the  first  grooming.  The  method  of  raising 
the  forefoot  and  the  hind  foot,  as  explained  in  this  manual,  should 
be  thoroughly  understood  by  all  enlisted  men  and  be  a  part  of  the 
instruction  of  every  recruit. 

■WTien  the  young  horse  siu-renders  his  foot,  lower  it  again  quietly 
and  pat  him;  later  use  the  brush  on  the  soles  of  his  feet;  next  tap 
the  soles  lightly  "with  the  currycomb;  finally,  take  the  sheer's  posi- 
tion and  go  through  the  same  steps.  This  complete  instruction  may 
be  a  matter  of  a  day  or  of  many  days,  depending  upon  the  animal's 
disposition,  but  it  should  not  be  slighted  nor  hurried. 

In  the  department  of  equitation  at  the  Mounted  Service  School 
the  following  method  is  used  with  young  horses  that  are  disposed 
to  kick  when  their  hind  legs  are  first  handled .  The  horse  is  equipped 
with  a  cavesson,  which  is  held  by  the  animal's  trainer.  A  surcingle 
is  placed  around  the  girth.  The  man  that  grooms  the  horse  takes 
hold  of  the  surcingle  with  the  inside  hand,  in  order  to  move  with 
the  horse  and  be  secure  against  injury.     With  the  outside  hand  he 

103 


104  MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 

strokes  the  haunches  and  legs,  gradually  working  downward.  In 
the  meantime  the  trainer  pats  the  horse  on  the  neck,  but  corrects 
him  sharply  with  the  cavesson  whenever  he  displays  temper.  This 
method  is  almost  invariably  successful. 

The  second  step  is  to  let  the  young  horse  grow  accustomed  to  the 
shop.  While  the  horseshoer  is  at  work  on  a  quiet  horse  the  young 
horse  should  be  led  into  the  shop  and  held  by  the  man  who  has  been 
grooming  him  and  raising  his  feet. 

The  animal  should  not  he  tied,  nor  should  he  be  held  by  any  other 
man  than  the  one  he  knows  and  trusts. 

When  the  animal  shows  neither  timidity  nor  excitement  the  shoer 
begins  work  on  the  feet.  Frequently  the  removal  of  the  surplus 
growth  of  horn  is  all  that  can  be  accomplished  without  excitement 
or  resistance.  At  the  first  sign  of  either,  work  for  that  day  should 
be  abandoned  and  the  horse  removed  from  the  shop. 

The  shock  of  the  hammer  is  conveyed  to  the  joints  of  the  pastern 
bones,  and  the  green  horse,  startled  thereby,  will  struggle  to  free  his 
foot.  The  shoer  can  usually  handle  a  forefoot  easily  unassisted. 
If  a  good  helper  holds  the  hind  leg  in  a  comfortable  position  on  his 
thigh  and  holds  the  hoof  firmly  with  both  hands,  the  shoer  can  work 
with  more  certainty,  the  shocks  of  nail  driving  will  be  taken  up, 
to  a  great  extent,  in  the  helper's  wrists  and  arms,  and  the  horse  will 
stand  quietly. 

Patient,  quiet  work  will  eventually  succeed  and  thereafter  each 
shoeing  is  more  easily  completed. 

109.  There  are,  however,  certain  highly  nervous  horses  in  nearly 
every  organization  that  are  refractory  as  a  result  of  previous  bad 
,  handling,  and  in  the  emergencies  of  active  ser\ice  there  may  be 
insufficient  time  to  quietly  prepare  new  mounts  for  shoeing  as  ex- 
plained above. 

In  these  cases  some  form  of  restraint  is  required,  but  in  each 
instance  no  more  force  should  be  employed  than  is  absolutely 
necessary — the  gentlest  method  should  he  tried  first. 

The  cavesson,  as  a  means  of  correction,  will  usually  make  a  horse 
stand  still  and  is  to  be  preferred  to  the  twitch.  The  latter,  although 
effective,  is  a  brutal  instrument,  and  should  never  be  used  except 
upon  an  animal  otherwise  unmanageable;  moreover,  after  repeated 
use  of  the  twitch  the  horse  dreads  any  approach  of  the  hands  to 
his  muzzle,  and  can  be  bridled  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 
Severe  use  of  the  twitch  will  also  permanently  disfigure  the  animal's 
appearance. 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  105 

110.  If  the  cavesson  is  insufficient,  the  rigging  described  below 
should  be  used. 

The  cuflF. — A  strap  of  double  thickness  of  leather,  18  inches 
long  and  1}4  inches  wide,  is  sewed  to  a  D  ring  3  inches  long  and 
made  of  ^  g-inch  round  iron.  A  piece  of  thin  leather  9  inches  long 
and  3  inches  wide  is  sewed  on  the  inside  of  the  strap  next  to  the 
D  ring;  a  buckle  and  keeper  are  sewed  on  the  outside  pf  the  strap 
as  shown. 


The  surcingle. — Two  3-inch  rings  are  sewed  on  the  outside  of 
the  issue  surcingle  and  are  so  placed  that  when  the  surcingle  is  ad- 
justed the  rings  will  hang  down  in  the  position  of  the  quarterstrap 
rings  of  a  saddle. 

A  rope  I  inch  in  diameter  and  about  20  feet  long;  an  eye-splice 
should  be  made  at  one  end. 

This  rigging  can  be  easily  made  in  any  organization.  For  use  in 
the  field  the  rope  is  replaced  by  a  lariat.  The  cuff  and  surcingle 
together  weigh  only  2  pounds  5  ounces,  and  can  readily  be  packed 
in  a  saddlebag. 

TO    RAISE    A    FOREFOOT. 

111.  Strap  the  cuff  around  the  pastern,  the  ring  above  the  heels. 
Pass  an  end  of  the  rope  through  the  ring  and  hand  both  ends  over 
the  horse's  back  to  a  helper. 

The  horse's  head,  as  usual,  should  be  held  by  the  man  that  grooms 
and  trains  the  animal. 

This  man  should  stand  on  the  side  of  the  foot  to  be  raised  in  order 
to  avoid  injury  if  the  horse  strikes. 

The  sheer  gently  but  forcibly  flexes  the  knee  and  raises  the  foot, 
while  the  helper  takes  in  the  slack  of  the  doubled  rope.  If  the  horse 
is  fractious,  the  helper  passes  both  ends  through  the  ring  on  his  side. 
Grasping  the  rope  close  under  the  surcingle  ring  with  the  hand 
nearest  the  horse's  head,  and  holding  the  ends  seciu-ely  against  the 
hip  in  the  other  hand,  the  helper  is  secure  against  injury,  can  move 
with  the  horse  and  control  the  slack  to  the  best  advantage. 


Plate  XXIII.— Raising  Front  Foot  of  Refractory  Horse;  Also  Hind  Foot 
First  Method.  ' 

106 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  107 

If  a  helper  is  not  available,  the  sheer  secures  one  end  of  the  rope 
to  the  D  ring  (by  the  eye  or  by  a  knot),  passes  the  other  end  through 
the  surcingle  ring  on  his  own  side  and,  after  raising  the  foot,  ties  a 
half  hitch. 

TO    RAISE    A   HIND    FOOT. 

(FmsT  Method.) 

113.  Strap  the  cuff  around  the  pastern,  the  ring  above  the  heels. 
Draw  the  horse's  tail-  to  one  side  and  make  a  loop  in  it;  fasten  one 
end  of  the  rope  in  the  loop  by  a  "  single  sheet  bend . ' '  Pass  the  other 
end  through  the  D  ring  and  draw  it  to  the  rear,  where  it  is  held  by 
helpers.  The  horse  is  tied,  but  the  head  is  held  as  usual,  ^^^len 
the  sheer  raises  the  foot,  the  helpers  draw  in  the  slack  of  the  rope 
and  the  foot  is  supported  (by  the  animal  himself)  in  a  good  position 
for  work.  If  he  kicks  he  can  do  no  harm,  as  his  foot  must  move 
along  the  rope.  After  one  or  two  such  efforts  he  ^vill  ordinarily 
stand  quiet. 

If  helpers  are  not  available,  the  end  of  the  rope  may  be  secured 
to  a  post  or  tree,  but  must  be  fastened  in  a  manner  to  permit  of  prompt 
release  in  case  of  a  protracted  struggle,  during  which  the  horse  might 
throw  himself  and  be  injiu-ed. 

Mr.  Churchill,  instructor  in  shoeing,  used  this  device  for  14  years 
in  civilian  practice  v.ith  unfailing  success.     (See  Plate  XVI.) 

TO    RAISE    A   HIND   FOOT. 

(Second  Method.) 

113.  Strap  the  cuff  around  the  pastern,  the  ring  to  the  front. 
Put  the  surcingle  around  the  neck  in  front  of  the  shoulders,  loosely, 
so  that  it  will  not  bind  and  choke  the  animal.  Make  the  rope  fast 
in  a  ring  on  the  surcingle,  pass  the  free  end  through  the  ring  on  the 
cuff  and  back  through  the  ring  on  the  surcingle,  and  draw  the  foot 
forward  and  upward.  This  is  an  inconvenient  position  of  the  foot 
for  an  inexperienced  workman,  but  it  prevents  the  animal  from 
kicking  and  guards  both  the  animal  and  the  sheer  from  injury. 
With  a  little  care  the  animal  can  be  quickly  ^and  properly  shod. 

If  the  rigging  is  not  at  hand  use  a  1-inch  or  1^-inch  rope,  preferably 
the  latter  size,  as  smaller  rope  is  apt  to  burn  the  animal.  Make  a 
loose  collar  -with  a  short  piece  of  rope,  pass  a  loop  of  a  long  rope  around 
the  pastern  and  draw  the  foot  up  as  described  above.     If  only  one 


MANUAL  FOR  ARMY  HORSESHOERS. 


109 


piece  of  rope  is  available  and  it  is  not  desired  to  cut  it,  tie  a  bowline 
loosely  around  the  neck,  pass  the  end  of  the  rope  around  the  pastem 
and  through  the  bowline,  and  proceed  as  above.     In  using  a  rope 


Plate  XXV.— Harness  for  Theowtntg  Horse. 

^^-ithout  the  cuff  the  shoer  should  raise  the  foot  and  adjust  the  rope 
in  the  hollow  of  the  pastern  while  an  assistant  takes  up  the  slack; 
if  the  foot  is  raised  by  means  of  the  roj^e  alone,  even  a  large  rope 
running  thi'ough  the  hollow  of  the  pastern  is  apt  to  bum. 


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110 


Plate  XXVI.— Throwing  the  Horse  For  Shoeing. 


MANUAL  FOR   ARMY  HORSESHOERS.  Ill 

114.  Wlien  it  is  found  that  a  horse  is  so  vicious  that  it  is  dangerous 
to  shoe  him  unless  he  is  rendered  helpless,  two  courses  are  open. 
One  is  to  put  him  in  the  stgcks;  the  other  is  to  throw  him  and  tie 
him  do^^^l. 

The  latter  method  is  a  last  resort,  to  be  used  only  when  quieter 
methods  have  been  tried  and  proved  unsatisfactory. 

The  harness  used  in  the  farriers'  branch  of  this  school  to  throw 
horses  for  minor  operations  has  been  found  to  answer  the  purpose 
and  does  not  harm  the  horse.  Throwing  and  "hog  tying"  a  horse 
without  other  appliances  than  a  rope  should  be  avoided,  as  this 
method  usually  burns  the  horse  badly  and  has  been  known  to  result 
in  permanent  injury. 

The  thro^ving  harness  (PI.  XXV")  consists  of: 

1.  Bellyband  with  snap  hooks  for  front  hobbles. 

2.  Breast  strap  with  suspending  neck  strap. 

3.  Saddle  pad  \^ith  crossed  ropes,  each  20  feet  long. 
4  and  5.  Front  hobbles. 

6  and  7.  Hind  hobbles. 

8.  Check  strap,  used  to  connect  the  saddle  pad  with  halter  crown 
strap. 

The  harness  is  shown  in  detail  in  the  illustration.  The  scale  of 
inches  will  enable  any  good  saddler  to  manufacture  it  accurately, 
and  Plate  XXVI  also  shows  clearly  the  manner  in  which  it  should 
be  adjusted  and  used. 


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